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Arsenal stars set to headline Euro 2024 semi-finals

Arsenal players set to star in Euro 2024 semi-finals

As the dust settles on a nail-biting 2024 European Championship quarter-final round, all eyes turn to the equally eagerly anticipated semi-finals.

Euro 2024 has lived up to its tag as one of the footballing spectacles of the year. As the tournament approaches a thrilling climax, the final four teams are set to showcase some of the finest talents on the continent.

Among the standout performers are several Arsenal players who have been instrumental in guiding their national teams to the penultimate stage of the tournament.

These Gunners will be chomping at the bit to leave their mark on one of the biggest stages in international football, with a place in the continental showpiece event up for grabs.

As they prepare to take the field in the semi-finals, all eyes will be on these Arsenal stars, who are set to play pivotal roles for their respective nations in their quest for European glory.

We’re already into the penultimate phase of the tournament, but it’s not too late for fans to secure their Euro 2024 tickets from seatsnet.com ahead of what promises to be yet another action-packed round of football.

Spain vs France

Arsenal’s William Saliba has been a cornerstone for France throughout the tournament and will be one of the first names on the team sheet when Les Bleus take on Spain in a box office semi-final showdown on Tuesday.

Having played a key role for Arsenal in their near-miss attempt to finally end their Premier League title drought last term, the 23-year-old has certainly picked up where he left off, seamlessly transitioning that form onto the international stage.

Saliba has been a consistent performer for France throughout the tournament, helping Didier Deschamps’ side keep an impressive record of four clean sheets in five games.

He has maintained a 97% pass accuracy and won 55% of his ground duels, while his 3.8 ball recoveries and 4.8 clearances per 90 minutes paint the picture of a “Rolce Royce” centre-back in complete control.

The former Olympique Marseille loanee will undoubtedly be eager to maintain this exceptional form when France lock horns with Spain in a tantalising semi-final showdown at the Allianz Arena.

La Roja became the first team to punch their tickets to the semi-finals after ousting tournament hosts Germany in an extra-time thriller in Stuttgart.

Substitute Dani Olmo broke the deadlock with a well-taken strike after replacing the injured Pedri early on. However, Germany refused to surrender, with Florian Wirtz scoring a dramatic late equaliser to force extra time.

Just when a penalty shoot-out seemed inevitable, Mikel Merino rose to the occasion, heading home a dramatic winner in the 119th minute.

The victory further strengthens Spain’s position as tournament favourites.

La Roja are the only team with a perfect record in the tournament, but their celebrations were tempered by the growing list of absentees.

The Group B winners named an unchanged team against Germany after coming from behind to beat Georgia 4-1 in the last 16.

However, the win against the hosts came at a significant cost. Pedri was forced off early with a serious injury following a heavy challenge from Toni Kroos and will miss the remainder of the tournament.

Olmo, who replaced Pedri and spurred Spain to a win with a goal and an assist, will likely take on a more permanent role in the starting line-up.

However, Spain manager Luis de la Fuente’s woes don’t end there.

La Roja will be without key defenders Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand, as well as captain Alvaro Morata, due to suspension. The latter picked up a second caution while celebrating Merino’s winner.

Later that day, France joined Spain in celebrating a place in the last four after edging past Portugal on penalties following a tense 0-0 draw in their Euro 2024 quarter-final clash at the Volksparkstadion.

While Les Bleus secured a place in the semi-finals, the victory did little to quell concerns surrounding Didier Deschamps’ conservative brand of football that appears to have stifled France’s attack.

France are yet to score a single goal in open play at the tournament. Their defensive pragmatism has been effective in grinding out results, but questions have been raised about their attacking prowess.

Despite the criticism, France are now just one win away from a third major final in their last four tournaments, which is a testament to their resilience under Deschamps.

The manager handed Randal Kolo Muani and Eduardo Camavinga a starting berth against Portugal, but neither managed to fully seize the opportunity presented by Adrien Rabiot’s suspension.

Rabiot will be back from suspension for the semi-final, so unlike their upcoming opponent, France will have a full squad at their disposal.

Kylian Mbappe was substituted during extra time after sustaining a blow to his broken nose, but he is not expected to miss the semi-final.

Netherlands vs England

England’s journey to Euro 2024 glory continues, but their path hasn’t been paved with roses.

Despite boasting a squad brimming with talent, Gareth Southgate’s men have navigated a series of tense battles, relying heavily on their individual talent to bail them out of precarious situations.

Like their Arsenal teammate Saliba, who solidified France’s backline, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice have cemented themselves as key players in Southgate’s squad.

They’ve been crucial to England’s quest to “bring it home” thus far and will headline Southgate’s team sheet as the Three Lions take on the Netherlands in a mouthwatering semi-final clash in Dortmund on Wednesday.

England have flattered to deceive throughout the tournament, but they’ve managed to grind out positive results to secure a spot in the last four.

After edging through a nervous group stage, punctuated by two draws and a narrow win, Southgate’s side needed a 95th-minute Jude Bellingham overhead kick to keep their campaign alive against Slovakia before beating Switzerland on penalties in the quarter-finals.

Like their last 16 fiasco, England were handed another massive scare when Breel Embolo tucked home from close range in the 75th minute to give the Swiss a massive lead.

Southgate immediately responded by rolling the dice with a triple substitution, but it was the Arsenal boys that combined to pull England back on level terms, with Saka taking Rice’s pass in his stride before finding the bottom corner.

There have been signs of progress, and the level of talent on the pitch is obvious, but England fans will not fancy another 90 or 120 minutes of tightrope walking with a place in the final on the line.

The road to Berlin hasn’t been paved with tulips for the Netherlands either.

Having finished third in their group after losing to Austria, they strolled past Romania in the last-16 but were forced to stage a late comeback to beat Turkiye 2-1 in the quarter-final.

Few predicted Ronald Koeman’s men would reach this stage, yet they have secured a place in the Euros semi-finals for the first time in two decades.

It will be interesting to see which side will take the final step to Berlin on Wednesday, although the contest has all the makings of another box office showdown.

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