European Championship semi-final - Duel with French Spaniards and Spanish Frenchmen
Spain vs France, this is also the duel of two neighboring countries. The border between the two nations is over 600 kilometers long, and they will face off against each other in the Football-EM semifinals in Munich today (21.00 Uhr/ZDF and Magenta TV).
In the Spanish squad, there are two players who were born in France but had no chance in the Tricolore team. For the French, there is a duo that either only or many years played in Spain - but never for a French professional team.
France's Antoine Griezmann
He says about himself: "I think in French, but I get angry in Spanish." The 134-time French national team player of the Grande Nation was born in Mâcon, not far from Lyon. But already at the age of 14, Griezmann moved to Spain to the youth of Real Sociedad in San Sebastián. Initially, he lived with the scout who had arranged it. In the summer of 2014, Griezmann was attracted to Atlético Madrid, where he - interrupted by a stint at FC Barcelona - plays to this day.
Greezmann, now 33 years old and a World Champion of 2018, faces a place on the bench against his adopted homeland due to disappointing performances. "The coach had to make decisions, and so far everything has gone well," said national team player Adrien Rabiot. "We know exactly what Antoine is capable of. We have expectations when it comes to Antoine."
France's Théo Hernandez
They both wanted to play for Spain as well. "Spain gave me everything," Lucas once said. "I speak better Spanish than French." After ten years there, a Spanish passport was no problem.
At the EM, Lucas is not in the French squad because he suffered a cruciate ligament injury with Paris Saint-Germain against Borussia Dortmund in May. Théo is there. They speak to each other every day. The match against Spain is also special for them, as Lucas intends to travel to Munich according to statements from Trainer Didier Deschamps.
Théo Hernandez, born in Marseille, played in the youth of Atlético Madrid from the age of nine. Other stations: Alaves, Real Sociedad, and Real Madrid. Since the summer of 2019, Théo Hernandez has played for AC Milan. In the French Ligue 1, he never played.
Spain's Robin Le Normand
He sets the tone - at least at the piano. Against France, the country where Robin Aime Robert Le Normand is listed on the Spanish team website, he is missing, yellow-carded. The now 27-year-old defender, born in Pabu, a village in Brittany, made one professional appearance for Stade Brest before joining Real Sociedad in the summer of 2016.
He has played 16 times for Spain, making his debut in La Roja just over a year ago in June 2023. Before that, he successfully obtained Spanish citizenship, having unsuccessfully waited for a call-up to the Tricolore team.
Spain's Aymeric Laporte
He also moved early from France to Spain. In 2010, the now 30-year-old defender of Aviron Bayonnais went to Athletic Bilbao's U19. He played there until 2018, with a one-year interruption. From there, Laporte moved to Manchester City. Since the summer of the previous year, he has been playing in Saudi Arabia for Al-Nassr and thus the club of Portugal's superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.
Defender Laporte, born in the south French city of Agen, went through the French junior teams, playing for the U17, U18, U19, and U21. However, Laporte's Spanish nationality was recognized before the last EM. After making his debut in June 2021 in one of the EM preparation matches, he was selected for the tournament. Laporte had played 33 matches for Spain before facing his birth country.
- In the Spanish squad, Theo Hernandez is absent due to injury, but he intends to support his friend Lucas from the sidelines in Munich.
- Antoine Griezmann, despite being born in France and having played for Real Sociedad in San Sebastián, may find himself on the bench in the semifinal against his birth country.
- Both players, Griezmann and Hernandez, have expressed their affection for Spain, with Griezmann even stating that he speaks better Spanish than French.
- Aymeric Laporte, another player of Spanish descent, had a successful career in French junior teams before moving to Athletic Bilbao's U19.
- Despite being born in Agen, France, Laporte's Spanish nationality was recognized before the last EM and he went on to represent Spain in the semifinal against France.
- Griezmann's disappointing performances have led to speculation about his place in the starting lineup, with teammate Adrien Rabiot expressing confidence in his abilities.
- ZDF and Magenta TV will broadcast the highly anticipated semifinal match between Spain and France, which sees two neighboring countries go head-to-head in the European Football Championship.
- Real Sociedad is a club that has played a significant role in the development of both Griezmann and Hernandez, with the former moving to the club's youth academy at the age of 14.
