BET SMART Spain's sizzle will fry French
Zimmerman brings experience as 'overage' player on Olympic team
The semifinals for Euro 2024 are wonderfully poised.
In Tuesday’s matchup you have a young, dynamic Spanish team taking on an experienced French side that has pragmatically navigated its way to another semifinal at a major international tournament. Two footballing powerhouses at very different parts of their story arc.
On Wednesday, the exciting-butflawed Dutch taking on an England side that has somehow been among the most disappointing teams in this tournament despite making it to the semis. Only the English could pull that off.
Both matchups feature tight odds and contrasting styles, which should make for great betting.
Spain vs. France
No team has faced a tougher path to get to the semifinals than Spain. La Furia Roja were placed in a group with Italy, Croatia and Albania and came through unscathed before blowing past Georgia, 4-1, in the Round of 16. That earned this young Spanish side a date with the hosts, Germany, in the quarterfinals.
Spain not only passed that test but did it in electrifying fashion with Mikel Merino’s 119th-minute winner answering Germany’s equalizer in the 89th-minute. Now, only France stands between Spain and its first trip to a final at a major tournament since 2012.
If Spain has electrified its fanbase en route to a trip to the final four, France has just taken care of business. Didier Deschamps is one of the most decorated coaches in the history of international soccer, but his preferred style is to play with caution and hope that Kylian Mbappe or another one of his star players can come up with a differencemaking moment.
It may not be pleasing on the eye, but France’s risk-averse style of soccer has
been effective. Les Bleus won the World Cup in 2018 and were runners up in Euro 2016 and World Cup 2022. They now find themselves one win away from a fourth major final under Deschamps.
France has scored just three goals in the tournament, but there’s no denying that this is one of the best teams in the world at controlling the tempo of a match.
The issue is that Spain is a different sort of animal compared to the teams France has quieted to this point. La Furia Roja lead the tournament in goals per match, expected goals for and big scoring chances created.
Spain’s ability to unlock any defense should throw this match on its head and that puts value on La Furia Roja, who will be more comfortable if things go off script.
Recommendation: Spain to win in regulation +170 (BetMGM).
England vs. Netherlands
England has more talent than just about any team in the world, but it has preferred to play a pragmatic style that puts an emphasis on keeping things tidy rather than creating scoring chances.
The result has been five dreary matches. The Three Lions haven’t lost any of them and are in the semifinals, but considering their path (Serbia, Denmark, Slovenia, Slovakia and Switzerland) you’d expect more than just one win inside 90 minutes and five goals scored.
The Netherlands sputtered to start this tournament, but has found some of its signature flair in their last two matches, albeit against Romania and Turkey.
The Dutch should provide a much stiffer test for this terrific English defense than any of their previous opponents and that should lead to more chaos, which is why playing the Over 2.5 at a good number seems a savvy bet.
Recommendation: Over 2.5 goals alternate total (+162, FanDuel).
Michael Leboff handicaps soccer for Action Network.
Walker Zimmerman isn’t too old for the Olympics, after all.
The 31-year-old defender will be making his Olympic debut in Paris as an overage player (one of the three players each team is allowed over the age limit) on the U-23 U.S. Men’s Soccer Olympic team, which was announced by head coach Marko Mitrovic on Monday morning.
“Obviously, as an overage player on the men’s side, my cycle, we didn’t qualify and that’s when I thought my dream is over. I won’t have the chance to play in the Olympics,” Zimmerman said during Monday’s U.S. Soccer press conference in Manhattan. “And then as things materialized later this year, just getting this opportunity is amazing. It’s something I’ve always watched growing up, something I’ve always wanted to participate in.”
In 2021, the USMNT failed to qualify for the Summer Olympics for the third consecutive cycle, following a heartwrenching 2-1 loss to Honduras during the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying semifinals.
“I wanna win a medal,” Zimmerman said. “That’s the personal goal. It’s such a unique opportunity to get to go to the Olympics, especially as an overage player.”
Zimmerman, who plays in MLS for Nashville SC, made his debut with the USMNT in a 2017 friendly against Jamaica during January Camp and was named player of the match. The Furman product and Georgia native has 42 caps with the U.S., with his last coming against Canada in the June 2023 CONCACAF final. He has captained the team nine times and played in all four matches at the 2022 World Cup.
The veteran defender cites his “composure, experience and communication” in how he plans to lead the young squad in Paris.
FC Cincinnati defender Miles Robinson, 27, and Colorado Rapids midfielder Djorde Mihailovic,
25, also headline the 18-man Olympic roster, taking up the other overage spots.
Robinson was on the U.S. roster for Copa America, but did not see the field as the team was eliminated in the group stage after a tough loss to Uruguay. The defender has 29 international appearances and an extra-time goal that clinched the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup final against Mexico. He missed the 2022 World Cup due to a torn Achilles tendon.
“To see what [Robinson] went through after World Cup qualifying, having that injury that he did and missing out on the World Cup, I’m so happy for him to be back and have the opportunity on the world stage to represent the United States,” Zimmerman said. “I’m excited to be alongside him. I think it’ll be a really fun pairing and one that I have the utmost faith in.”
Mihailovic has recorded three goals across his 11 international appearances with the USMNT, but hasn’t played for them since their loss to Panama in the July 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup semis.
“It’s such a fun, young group of guys,” Zimmerman said. “It’s gonna be some of the biggest games of their lives and biggest moments of their careers. It’s still a huge moment for me.”