Spain against France

Rami wins a header at the far-post, knocked back across goal. Koscielny cannot keep the ball in play.

Ribery wins a corner after claiming a knockdown from a long-ball. What can they do?

France go long for Giroud, who is offside. This is dire...

France are showing no ambition here, or is that they have not been allowed to?

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Cazorla replaces Iniesta</b>

France now looking to push forward and grab a chance, but there is no inspiration.

Pass, pass, pass. Only 56% possession tonight.

Spain looking to monopolise possession as the time ticks away. Nothing France can do.

<b>OFFSIDE</b> Jordi Alba bundles through a tackle and slides in Torres. Offside given, questionably, but Torres' shot was saved anyway.

Immediately, the target-man is penalised for 'pushing' Arbeloa. Questionable.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Giroud replaces Yann M'Vila</b>

France manage to surrender possession as Ribery tackles Reveillere. Xabi Alonso's long-ball for Torres is overhit.

Fernando Torres does well on the right to win a corner. Xavi and Iniesta take it short. Wasted.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> <b>Menez</b> booked for dissent. Would miss a potential semi-final.

The ball is back with France's defence. Played long for Benzema, via a Nasri flick, but marshalled by Pique.

This will be helping France's possession stats, but they are yet to reach the area. Oh, well. Arbeloa robs Clichy. Throw-in.

The French still have possession, working the ball from side-to-side. Spain staying compact in defence

France showing much more intent now, this is good to see.

M'Vila releases Ribery down the left, but the winger over-runs the ball a little. He keeps it in play though, cutting back the ball but Casillas claims.

Rami is called upon again to cut out a cross heading for a striker. He's done well tonight

Menez working hard on the right to pressurise Jordi Alba. He is penalised though. Alba likes to go to ground quite easily, I must say.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Torres replaces Fabregas</b>

Jordi Alba pushed right up as a winger now and fires a low cross in front of goal. Rami clears well, with Fabregas lurking.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Pedro replaces David Silva</b>

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Menez and Nasri replace Malouda and Debuchy</b>

Benzema's eyes light up at the site of goal from 30 yards. A long way over the bar.

France preparing some changes it seems. Spain keeping the ball, as expected.

<b>BRILLIANT!</b> Cesc is slipped through on goal and looks to round Lloris, but the goalkeeper slides in early to claim the ball. Chance squandered.

France starting to get numbers forward and a penalty area scramble ensues. The ball will not fall for a striker though.

Better from France. Ribery creates space for a cross and finds Debuchy who heads just over the bar.

Clichy comes forward on the left and plays the ball infield for Ribery. Ramos covers.

Malouda is robbed in midfield and Spain counter. Fabregas gets the ball on the right and crosses. There is nobody in the centre, though.

Spain win the ball back from France, but shock! David Silva gives the ball away.

France showing a bit more energy now. Ribery wins a corner on the left. Swung in, but headed away by Arbeloa.

Spain passing the ball around with little killer instinct again. The clock is ticking...

France are making a hash of every attacking opportunity they create. Ribery and Benzema culpable of poor passes.

Ribery is slipped in by Benzema. Sergio Ramos does brilliantly, though, bullying the Bayern man off the ball.

Xabi Alonso takes a shot from 30 yards. Well struck, but comfortably over the bar.

Tiki-taka in full swing now. Pass, pass, pass...

France have Spain pinned back on the right now, but Jordi Alba takes a tumble and the pressure is relieved.

Busquets showing some skills in midfield. Spain's turn to keep the ball.

France keeping possession at the start of the second period. No changes at the break.

<b>SECOND HALF</b> underway...

Tomorrow we have England v Italy - Paulo Baldini discusses the Italian strikeforce - <a href="http://espnfc.com/en/features/1113174/paolo-bandinipantomime-villains-take-centre-stage.html" target="_blank">Read</a>

What can France do to change things? Ben Arfa?

<img src="http://i.espncdn.com/i/img/1113451_310_175.jpg"> Xabi Alonso scores his goal with a back-post header.

<b>HALF TIME</b> Spain 1-0 France - Spain are ahead after one moment of quality. Both sides can improve on the first-half showings.

One added-minute...

Free-kick to Spain from the left. Xavi swings the ball in, straight to Lloris.

Iniesta creates space for Fabregas to slide in David Silva. Cesc's pass, though, is too close to Koscielny. Wasted.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> <b>Cabaye</b> booked after catching Busquets late in midfield.

Xavi crosses in from the far-side, but it is Koscielny who rises highest to head away.

Silva now runs down the right for Spain and is marked by both Ribery and Clichy. Still wins a corner.

France attack with Benzema on the right, looking to pick out Debuchy in the centre. The combination fail to produce a result though.

Cesc looks to find Iniesta, whose shot is deflected. Corner swung in and Pique heads not far wide.

France are struggling in the final third. Ribery not firing so far and crosses to nobody again.

Referee ticks off Jordi Alba after a tangle with Benzema. Xavi was penalised for a foul instead though.

The match is yet to really get going. Tepid really.

Iniesta looks to play in Cesc, but the two Barca men are on different wavelengths.

Corner sent in from the left and Casillas claims, before losing the ball in contact. Grabbed at the second-attempt.

<b>Great save!</b> Cabaye takes from a similar area to Benzema. Heading for the top-corner - saved by Casillas.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> <b>Ramos</b> fouls the advancing Benzema. Cynical.

Corner sent in by Iniesta from the right, but Fabregas heads a long way over the bar. Leaning back

Spain counter after Ribery concedes possession and Cesc does well to pick out Iniesta's diagonal run. Shot deflected for a corner.

For all their short, sharp triangles, Spain have misplaced a fair few passes so far tonight.

A terrible effort from Benzema. Floated, not even powerfully hit, well over the bar.

Xabi Alonso concedes a free-kick 35 yards out for a foul on Benzema. The Real Madrid man likes the look of this one.

Spain are passing around the box once more and again the attack comes to an end with Arbeloa. Offside this time.

Silva turns Clichy inside out, but his pull back is touched away from Cesc. France counter, but Debuchy's cross is poor.

France haven't touched the ball since the goal. Spain are toying with them.

Spain now playing the ball around with 'swagger'. They look confident.

That is poor from France. Their plans have gone out the window.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL Spain 1-0 France (Xabi Alonso)</b> France's two right-backs are beaten by Jordi Alba, from Iniesta's pass, and Alba pulls out a perfect chipped cross to Xabi Alonso at the far-post to head home.

Spain look to feed their 'striker' Fabregas, but the Barcelona man is clearly offside.

Benzema surges forward to spring an attack for France, but it comes to an end at the feet of Ribery. Unlucky. Much better from Les Bleus.

Arbeloa has started with intent, but the end product is so poor. Found by Silva this time, Arbeloa's shot is hooked for a throw-in 10 metres from the by-line on the other side of the pitch.

France look to keep the ball for a sustained period, but Ribery allows Silva to win the ball back. Poor.

Spain currently passing around the edge of the France box. Fabregas' pass for Arbeloa is poor though. Goal-kick.

Spain feed Arbeloa on the right and the Real Madrid man crosses, but claimed by Lloris.

Ribery shows a little trick to give a glimpse of his talents. Spain quickly back on the ball, though.

Xabi Alonso tries an ambitious effort from near halfway. Lloris catches comfortably.

France looking to attack quickly when in possession. Spain looking to retain the ball at all times.

<b>PENALTY SHOUT</b> Massive appeals as Cesc Fabregas tumbles under pressure from Clichy. The referee waves away the protests. Correct decision.

Silva looks to have beaten Clichy down the right, in another club-mate battle. Cutting onto his favoured left-foot to pass, he only finds a French shirt.

Cabaye looks to slide Benzema past Ramos, but it is the Spaniard who comes out on top in the all Real Madrid battle.

Nice interplay between Ribery and Malouda as France look to counter. The Bayern man cannot find his team-mate who had got into a dangerous position.

Iniesta looks to slide Jordi Alba in behind Reveillere but Adil Rami is across quickly to clear.

Unsurprisingly, Spain start in possession. This may be a common theme tonight.

<b>KICK OFF</b> in Ukraine...

Followed by the Marcha Real of Spain, which of course has no words.

Anthem time, starting with France and La Marseillaise...

The teams are in the tunnel and ready to emerge into the Donbass Arena. Some fine players on show tonight. Italian referee - Nicola Rizzoli

The winner of this match, of course, faces Portugal in the semi-finals. Will we have an all Iberian encounter?

This from @DaleJohnsonESPN on Twitter - "Spain's Xavi and Andres Iniesta made more completed passes than the whole of the France team combined."

So, Laurent Blanc makes four changes for France as he looks to pack the midfield ahead of this clash with Spain. Yohan Cabaye, Laurent Koscielny, Anthony Reveillere and Florent Malouda come in. One change for Spain, Cesc Fabregas in for Fernando Torres as Del Bosque lines up with no striker once more.

Dale Johnson has previewed tonight's clash of European footballing giants here - <a href="http://espnfc.com/en/preview/345911/preview.html" target="_blank">Read</a>

<b>France:</b> Lloris; Reveillere, Rami, Koscielny, Clichy; Debuchy, M'Vila, Cabaye, Malouda, Ribery; Benzema

<b>Spain:</b> Casillas; Arbeloa, Pique, Ramos, Alba; Busquets, Alonso, Xavi, Iniesta, Silva; Fabregas.

It's payback time for Spain, who, in tournaments, have lost five of six games against France, says Eduardo Alvarez - <a href="http://bit.ly/L7Qbp8" target="_blank">Read</a>

Jonathan Johnson says Karim Benzema can be France's ace in the hole against Spain - <a href="http://bit.ly/PPuAq7" target="_blank">Read</a>

<img src="http://i.espncdn.com/i/img/1113225_310_175.jpg"> Both sides' fans are out in force at the Donbass Arena

Saturday night in Donetsk sees reigning World and European champions Spain take on France in the third quarter-final

This will be helping France's possession stats, but they are yet to reach the area. Oh, well. Arbeloa robs Clichy. Throw-in.

The French still have possession, working the ball from side-to-side. Spain staying compact in defence

France showing much more intent now, this is good to see.

M'Vila releases Ribery down the left, but the winger over-runs the ball a little. He keeps it in play though, cutting back the ball but Casillas claims.

Rami is called upon again to cut out a cross heading for a striker. He's done well tonight

Menez working hard on the right to pressurise Jordi Alba. He is penalised though. Alba likes to go to ground quite easily, I must say.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Torres replaces Fabregas</b>

Jordi Alba pushed right up as a winger now and fires a low cross in front of goal. Rami clears well, with Fabregas lurking.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Pedro replaces David Silva</b>

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Menez and Nasri replace Malouda and Debuchy</b>

Benzema's eyes light up at the site of goal from 30 yards. A long way over the bar.

France preparing some changes it seems. Spain keeping the ball, as expected.

<b>BRILLIANT!</b> Cesc is slipped through on goal and looks to round Lloris, but the goalkeeper slides in early to claim the ball. Chance squandered.

France starting to get numbers forward and a penalty area scramble ensues. The ball will not fall for a striker though.

Better from France. Ribery creates space for a cross and finds Debuchy who heads just over the bar.

Clichy comes forward on the left and plays the ball infield for Ribery. Ramos covers.

Malouda is robbed in midfield and Spain counter. Fabregas gets the ball on the right and crosses. There is nobody in the centre, though.

Spain win the ball back from France, but shock! David Silva gives the ball away.

France showing a bit more energy now. Ribery wins a corner on the left. Swung in, but headed away by Arbeloa.

Spain passing the ball around with little killer instinct again. The clock is ticking...

France are making a hash of every attacking opportunity they create. Ribery and Benzema culpable of poor passes.

Ribery is slipped in by Benzema. Sergio Ramos does brilliantly, though, bullying the Bayern man off the ball.

Xabi Alonso takes a shot from 30 yards. Well struck, but comfortably over the bar.

Tiki-taka in full swing now. Pass, pass, pass...

France have Spain pinned back on the right now, but Jordi Alba takes a tumble and the pressure is relieved.

Busquets showing some skills in midfield. Spain's turn to keep the ball.

France keeping possession at the start of the second period. No changes at the break.

<b>SECOND HALF</b> underway...

Tomorrow we have England v Italy - Paulo Baldini discusses the Italian strikeforce - <a href="http://espnfc.com/en/features/1113174/paolo-bandinipantomime-villains-take-centre-stage.html" target="_blank">Read</a>

What can France do to change things? Ben Arfa?

<img src="http://i.espncdn.com/i/img/1113451_310_175.jpg"> Xabi Alonso scores his goal with a back-post header.

<b>HALF TIME</b> Spain 1-0 France - Spain are ahead after one moment of quality. Both sides can improve on the first-half showings.

One added-minute...

Free-kick to Spain from the left. Xavi swings the ball in, straight to Lloris.

Iniesta creates space for Fabregas to slide in David Silva. Cesc's pass, though, is too close to Koscielny. Wasted.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> <b>Cabaye</b> booked after catching Busquets late in midfield.

Xavi crosses in from the far-side, but it is Koscielny who rises highest to head away.

Silva now runs down the right for Spain and is marked by both Ribery and Clichy. Still wins a corner.

France attack with Benzema on the right, looking to pick out Debuchy in the centre. The combination fail to produce a result though.

Cesc looks to find Iniesta, whose shot is deflected. Corner swung in and Pique heads not far wide.

France are struggling in the final third. Ribery not firing so far and crosses to nobody again.

Referee ticks off Jordi Alba after a tangle with Benzema. Xavi was penalised for a foul instead though.

The match is yet to really get going. Tepid really.

Iniesta looks to play in Cesc, but the two Barca men are on different wavelengths.

Corner sent in from the left and Casillas claims, before losing the ball in contact. Grabbed at the second-attempt.

<b>Great save!</b> Cabaye takes from a similar area to Benzema. Heading for the top-corner - saved by Casillas.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> <b>Ramos</b> fouls the advancing Benzema. Cynical.

Corner sent in by Iniesta from the right, but Fabregas heads a long way over the bar. Leaning back

Spain counter after Ribery concedes possession and Cesc does well to pick out Iniesta's diagonal run. Shot deflected for a corner.

For all their short, sharp triangles, Spain have misplaced a fair few passes so far tonight.

A terrible effort from Benzema. Floated, not even powerfully hit, well over the bar.

Xabi Alonso concedes a free-kick 35 yards out for a foul on Benzema. The Real Madrid man likes the look of this one.

Spain are passing around the box once more and again the attack comes to an end with Arbeloa. Offside this time.

Silva turns Clichy inside out, but his pull back is touched away from Cesc. France counter, but Debuchy's cross is poor.

France haven't touched the ball since the goal. Spain are toying with them.

Spain now playing the ball around with 'swagger'. They look confident.

That is poor from France. Their plans have gone out the window.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL Spain 1-0 France (Xabi Alonso)</b> France's two right-backs are beaten by Jordi Alba, from Iniesta's pass, and Alba pulls out a perfect chipped cross to Xabi Alonso at the far-post to head home.

Spain look to feed their 'striker' Fabregas, but the Barcelona man is clearly offside.

Benzema surges forward to spring an attack for France, but it comes to an end at the feet of Ribery. Unlucky. Much better from Les Bleus.

Arbeloa has started with intent, but the end product is so poor. Found by Silva this time, Arbeloa's shot is hooked for a throw-in 10 metres from the by-line on the other side of the pitch.

France look to keep the ball for a sustained period, but Ribery allows Silva to win the ball back. Poor.

Spain currently passing around the edge of the France box. Fabregas' pass for Arbeloa is poor though. Goal-kick.

Spain feed Arbeloa on the right and the Real Madrid man crosses, but claimed by Lloris.

Ribery shows a little trick to give a glimpse of his talents. Spain quickly back on the ball, though.

Xabi Alonso tries an ambitious effort from near halfway. Lloris catches comfortably.

France looking to attack quickly when in possession. Spain looking to retain the ball at all times.

<b>PENALTY SHOUT</b> Massive appeals as Cesc Fabregas tumbles under pressure from Clichy. The referee waves away the protests. Correct decision.

Silva looks to have beaten Clichy down the right, in another club-mate battle. Cutting onto his favoured left-foot to pass, he only finds a French shirt.

Cabaye looks to slide Benzema past Ramos, but it is the Spaniard who comes out on top in the all Real Madrid battle.

Nice interplay between Ribery and Malouda as France look to counter. The Bayern man cannot find his team-mate who had got into a dangerous position.

Iniesta looks to slide Jordi Alba in behind Reveillere but Adil Rami is across quickly to clear.

Unsurprisingly, Spain start in possession. This may be a common theme tonight.

<b>KICK OFF</b> in Ukraine...

Followed by the Marcha Real of Spain, which of course has no words.

Anthem time, starting with France and La Marseillaise...

The teams are in the tunnel and ready to emerge into the Donbass Arena. Some fine players on show tonight. Italian referee - Nicola Rizzoli

The winner of this match, of course, faces Portugal in the semi-finals. Will we have an all Iberian encounter?

This from @DaleJohnsonESPN on Twitter - "Spain's Xavi and Andres Iniesta made more completed passes than the whole of the France team combined."

So, Laurent Blanc makes four changes for France as he looks to pack the midfield ahead of this clash with Spain. Yohan Cabaye, Laurent Koscielny, Anthony Reveillere and Florent Malouda come in. One change for Spain, Cesc Fabregas in for Fernando Torres as Del Bosque lines up with no striker once more.

Dale Johnson has previewed tonight's clash of European footballing giants here - <a href="http://espnfc.com/en/preview/345911/preview.html" target="_blank">Read</a>

<b>France:</b> Lloris; Reveillere, Rami, Koscielny, Clichy; Debuchy, M'Vila, Cabaye, Malouda, Ribery; Benzema

<b>Spain:</b> Casillas; Arbeloa, Pique, Ramos, Alba; Busquets, Alonso, Xavi, Iniesta, Silva; Fabregas.

It's payback time for Spain, who, in tournaments, have lost five of six games against France, says Eduardo Alvarez - <a href="http://bit.ly/L7Qbp8" target="_blank">Read</a>

Jonathan Johnson says Karim Benzema can be France's ace in the hole against Spain - <a href="http://bit.ly/PPuAq7" target="_blank">Read</a>

<img src="http://i.espncdn.com/i/img/1113225_310_175.jpg"> Both sides' fans are out in force at the Donbass Arena

Saturday night in Donetsk sees reigning World and European champions Spain take on France in the third quarter-final