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• Spain v France: 'Outsiders' tag has aided La Roja ahead of semi-final showdown, says Cucurella

  Spain heading into Euro 2024 as "outsiders" instead of the pre-tournament favourites has aided La Roja, says Marc Cucurella ahead of Tuesday's semi-final against France.

  Luis de la Fuente's side are looking to reach their fifth European Championship final, with only Germany playing in more (six), after remaining perfect through five games so far.

  Spain needed a last-gasp Mikel Merino header for their 2-1 extra-time victory over hosts Germany in Friday's quarter-final, but Cucurella insists confidence continues to grow within the La Roja camp.

  "Within football, there has long been respect for Spain, how we play and the players we have, but maybe coming in [to Euro 2024] as outsiders helped us," the Chelsea full-back said on Sunday. 

  "We started with the confidence of having nothing to lose. Now that confidence has grown and we are in the key moment of the tournament.

  "I knew we had a great team, which has been proven. We have fought so hard to be here, and now we need one last big effort. Two more steps."

  De la Fuente's team will meet an out-of-sorts France in Munich for their last-four clash after Les Bleus scraped past Portugal on penalties in the quarter-final.

  Didier Deschamps' men once again failed to find the net across 120 minutes of action in their last-eight goalless draw on Friday, with only four goals scored by either team in France's five Euro 2024 matches thus far.

  Indeed, all 128 non-penalty shots have failed to be scored (86 for France, 42 for opponents), while they are the only team on record since 1980 to have more than 50 non-penalty shots at a Euros and fail to find the net with any of them.

  Kylian Mbappe's form remains a concern for Deschamps, too, with the Real Madrid-bound forward scoring just one goal from 20 shots at this edition, a penalty against Poland in their final group game.

  Rather than excitement around Mbappe, who has scored just once from 34 attempts at the European Championship overall, most of the focus revolves around Spanish wingers Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams.

  "With the Spanish national team, danger can come from anywhere," France midfielder Youssouf Fofana said at his pre-match press conference.

  "Nico Williams and Yamal have had a great season, but I expect them to lose on Tuesday. We have to stay as solid as we have been so far in defence."

  As for the criticism over France's playing style, Fofana insists he has no problem, adding: "In the end, we're in the semi-finals."

  PLAYERS TO WATCH

  Spain – Lamine Yamal

  Yamal has created 14 chances at this tournament, the most by a Spaniard at a major tournament since Xavi en route to winning Euro 2012 (25).

  The Barcelona winger's 14 chances created are also the most by a teenager at a major tournament that Opta has on record (since 1966 for World Cup, 1980 for Euros).

  And the 16-year-old has three assists within that tally, too, with no Spanish player ever registering more at a single European Championship tournament.

  France – Mike Maignan

  Les Bleus have had their backs against the wall for large parts of this competition in Germany, placing a heavy burden on Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan.

  The Frenchman has a save percentage of 94% at Euro 2024 the best of any goalkeeper to have played more than one game.

  Indeed, it is the best by a goalkeeper at a Euros tournament since Iker Casillas for the Euro 2012 winners Spain (also 94%).

  MATCH PREDICTION: SPAIN WIN

  Spain appear the narrow favourites to reach the final, with La Roja winning in 90 minutes in 38.1% of pre-match simulations by the Opta supercomputer.

  France are still afforded a 31.8% chance of victory, with the draw – sending the tie to extra time and possibly penalties – forecast in 30% of the same data-led simulations.

  Yet Deschamps will be well aware of Spain's quality, given De la Fuente's team have won 15 of their 19 matches since the start of 2023 – their 79% win percentage is the best of any European nation in that period.

  Spain are the only team to have won all five games at this tournament, though no side has ever gone six in a row in the competition's history, nor triumphed in six matches across a single edition.

  If La Roja can achieve that unprecedented feat here, then a place in the final in Berlin awaits against either England or the Netherlands.

  OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

  Spain – 38.2%

  France – 31.8%

  Draw – 30%

• Copa America exit a 'learning experience' for Panama, says Christiansen

  Thomas Christiansen believes Panama's exit from the Copa America will prove to be a "learning experience" for his players following their defeat to Colombia. 

  Panama had no answers to a James Rodriguez-inspired performance, bowing out of the competition after a 5-0 defeat to Los Cafeteros in Arizona. 

  Christiansen's side reached the knockout stages of the tournament for the first time in their history, having fallen in the group stages in 2016. 

  Panama finished second in Group C in this year's edition behind Uruguay, while also knocking out hosts United States out in the process. 

  Los Canaleros knew the enormity of the task ahead of them and have now failed to beat Colombia in their 15 fixtures against them (drawn four, lost 11). 

  However, head coach Christiansen was proud of his team's efforts and knows his players will return stronger from the defeat. 

  "I am very proud of my players, of what they have achieved in this Copa America," Christiansen said. 

  "Of course, no one likes losing and much the less 5-0, but we have to commend the players for this Copa America.

  "It did not end as we wished, but this is also a learning experience."

• 'I want to be the best player at the Copa America' – Colombia's James has sights set on glory

  James Rodriguez wants to be the Copa America's standout player, and is going some way to being just that.

  Colombia reached the semi-finals with a thumping 5-0 defeat of Panama on Saturday, with James taking a starring role as Los Cafeteros claimed their biggest Copa Ameria win.

  James scored a penalty and supplied two assists, including a delicious ball for Luis Diaz to make it 3-0 just before half-time.

  The former Real Madrid playmaker, who hardly featured for club side Sao Paulo last season, has now created five goals at this edition of the tournament, equalling the record haul for assists (since Opta began collecting such data) at the Copa America, alongside Lionel Messi's five in 2021.

  And having missed out on a call-up to Colombia's squad in 2021, James made it clear he plans on being the tournament's standout performer. 

  "A tough match, they are very strong, but we played well, we knew how to score the goals quickly and that gave us control of the match," James said.

  "Did I want to be the best player of the Copa? Yes, I wanted to have a very good Cup, help my team-mates to go far.

  "We are going until the last day, let's hope we can reach that great final that we all want, we are going through a good moment too.

  "The most important thing is still to come. We hope to reach the final."

  Saturday's match was the second time James has directly contributed to three goals in a competitive match for Colombia, after scoring and providing two assists against Japan in the 2014 World Cup (4-1), in which he won the Golden Boot.

  Colombia are now unbeaten in 27 games, matching their best such streak, and will face Uruguay, who overcame Brazil 4-2 on penalties, for a place in the final.