Euro 2024 Picks and Predictions! France and Netherlands & more
WagerTalk soccer handicapper Kevin Dolan presents his Euro 2024 picks and predictions for the Semifinal matchups of Spain vs France and Netherlands vs England? Read Kevin’s Euro 2024 Semifinals predictions and picks below!
Spain vs France Picks | Friday, July 9 | 3:00PM ET
Spain +170 | France +205 | Draw +185
France takes on Spain on Tuesday in the first of the Euro 2024 semi-finals and it's been a tale of two vastly different tournaments for both of these teams so far.
Spain has looked like the best team throughout at this tournament, being currently installed as the outright betting favorites as a result, recording blowout victories against both Croatia and Georgia before putting hosts Germany to the sword in the last round also.
Compare that against a France team that has looked largely labored throughout in this competition, notching three regulation time draws across their five games so far, and failing to score a single goal from open play also, and it's clear to see why Spain head into this game as marginal favorites on Tuesday.
However, the underlying numbers for Spain paint a different picture, with their route through to this semi-final being somewhat fortunate as they've been out-gunned in both of their biggest tests to date.
Croatia in their opening game, owned a clear 2.67 to 2.00 xG advantage against them, with the Croatians amassing five more shots on goal than the Spanish as well. Fast forward to Spain's quarter-final matchup against Germany on Friday and they were largely second-best throughout once again, with the Germans having 23 shots on goal, and restricting the Spanish to just one total corner in that match.
In fact, by the end of extra-time in that game against Germany, the Germans owned a comprehensive 2.14 to 1.11 xG advantage over Spain, and the hosts will no doubt be rueing Mikel Merino's late goal for the Spanish as the Germans will feel it should be them and not Spain facing France in Tuesday’s semi-final instead.
France meanwhile, has been quite the opposite, looking largely uninspired throughout this competition so far, but metrically continuing to look strong as they punch their ticket into yet another semi-final of a major international tournament.