No. 8 Spain meets No. 2 France in thrilling UEFA Euro 2024 semifinal

The GIST: After yet another dramatic weekend of penalty kicks, extra time, and even more own goals, the Euro semis are officially set. Up first? A true powerhouse showdown with No. 8 Spain taking on No. 2 France tomorrow at 3 p.m. ET. How’d they get here? Glad you asked.

Spain breaks hearts in Stuttgart: With just over one minute of extra time remaining, Spanish midfielder Mikel Merino nailed this header on Friday, securing Spain’s 2–1 win over host country No. 16 Germany and capping off a thrilling matchup between two of the strongest offenses in this year’s tourney. Simply stunning.

France outlasts No. 6 Portugal: Even sans broken-nosed superstar Kylian Mbappé late in the game, Les Bleus ended Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo’s Euro career on Friday, winning the penalty shootout 5–3 following a 0–0 draw.

• Though the French snuck away with the quarter-final dub, they still shockingly haven’t scored a single goal in open play (aka, not from a penalty kick) this tourney.

• Also of note? Both Spain and France will play without top defenders in tomorrow’s semi, with Spaniard Dani Carvajal and Frenchman Robin le Normand suspended due to yellow card accumulation. Uh oh.