Key events
Preamble
Style and substance are often presented as dichotomies, but in reality the relationship between them is far closer – so close that almost necessarily, each brings with it the other. So we might criticise Oscar Wilde, say, for bestowing upon us many more flourishes than messages … but equally we might realise that the flourishes are the messages, him advising us how to enjoy our lives. Similarly, we might complain that Jeffrey Archer, say, is not the greatest prose stylist of all time … or we might remind ourselves that sustaining an exciting story is a style all of its own.
So to cast today’s little tussle as a battle of style versus substance does not do justice to what we’re about to see – and how ludicrous it feels to be writing words to set that up when the simple fact of it, Spain v Italy, European Championship semi-finals, says more than any smartarse writer ever could. But here we are, so here we are.
So far, Spain have been the best side in this tournament – not much of an accolade, it’s true. And because they commit to a particular way of playing, they’re viewed as style merchants, but the reality is more nuanced. First of all they are – in the best possible way – cynical, snide and dirty. But more than that, the way they play is neither a service to football nor to us; rather it is, in their opinion and experience, the way they are most likely to succeed. Never in the history of the game has there been a method more difficult to beat than theirs, which is to say that even Álvaro Morata can’t dilute the substance oozing from their every pore.
France, on the other hand, are – like England and like Portugal – unbearably frustrating to watch because with the players they have, they ought to be so much better than they are. But though they couldn’t be less fun, the entire approach is predicated on Kylian Mbappé, and surely we’re surely not about to accuse him – or William Saliba, or Jules Koundé for that matter – of lacking style.
In other words, our teams are more similar than we might first think. Spain prioritise control, but no midfield containing Eduardo Camavinga, Aurélien Tchouaméni and N’Golo Kanté is going out to just let the other team have the ball, while France might plan to wait and counter, but no attack containing Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams will be shy about doing the exact same thing.
All of which is great for us, because it means none of us has the slightest clue how this is going to go – not even @TactixSzn on Twitter. There’s a very strong chance the game doesn’t flow, but very little chance it isn’t tight, intense and epic, the most embarrassingly compelling event taking place on the planet this evening – and there’s nothing more stylish or substantial than that. Aquí vamos y c’est parti!
Kick-off: 9pm local, 8pm BST
