Spain Leads at Half-Time: On Track for the Final!

The first half of this highly anticipated semi-final clash has officially concluded, with players heading into the locker rooms for the break. At half-time, Spain holds a deserved 1-0 lead over France. Judging by the on-field statistics, the flow of the game, and the overall performance of both sides, at this pace, Spain could easily be the first finalist of the tournament.

The match kicked off with intense physical battles and high tension. As early as the ninth minute, France's Adrien Rabiot was shown a yellow card by the referee for pushing an opponent. Shortly after this early booking, the breakthrough moment of the first half arrived. In the twenty-second minute, Spain was awarded a penalty. Mikel Oyarzabal stepped up to the spot and calmly converted the opportunity, putting Spain ahead 1-0. Misfortune continued for the French side just a few minutes later. In the thirtieth minute, starting defender William Saliba suffered an injury and could not continue, forcing a substitution as Maxence Lacroix came on to replace him. Just one minute later, in the thirty-first minute, Spain's Marc Cucurella also received a yellow card for pushing.

The half-time statistical data clearly illustrates Spain's superiority on the pitch. In terms of expected goals (xG), Spain generated an impressive value of 0.99, while France was held to a meager 0.04. Spain controlled the tempo with 55 percent ball possession, leaving France with 45 percent. In total shots, Spain attempted five, hitting the target once—which resulted in their leading goal. Conversely, France attempted two shots without a single one being on target. Furthermore, Spain created two big chances during the first forty-five minutes, whereas France failed to create any big chances at all. Spain also demonstrated superior passing accuracy, completing 219 out of 252 passes for an 87 percent success rate, compared to France's 163 completed passes out of 195, which accounted for an 84 percent success rate. France only managed to lead in corner kicks, taking three against Spain's one. Both teams finished the first half with one yellow card apiece as Spain looks strongly positioned to reach the final.

Image: Goal.com