Goal-shy France will be looking to silence the critics when they take on Spain in their Euro 2024 semi-final match on Tuesday, while their opponents hope to keep their impressive campaign going even without key players.
With Kylian Mbappe leading their talented squad, France were well among the favourites when they arrived in Germany.
But they have come under fire from fans and pundits alike for a string of unimpressive performances and have reached the last four without scoring a single goal in open play.
Despite reaching the final of the last two World Cups, winning in Russia in 2018 and losing only on penalties to Argentina in Qatar four years later, their Euros record under coach Didier Deschamps is less impressive. In his 12 years, their best result was a runner-up spot in 2016 on home soil.
On Friday they only edged past Portugal on penalties, with Mbappe substituted after another match where he spent more time fiddling with his mask than setting up his teammates.
Deschamps' France often manage to be dour and dramatic at the same time - defensively solid, they tend to waste chances up front, and they survived against Portugal partly thanks to similarly wasteful Cristiano Ronaldo.
"Listen, if you're bored you can watch something else, it's not a big deal, isn't it?" said Deschamps to a Swedish journalist who asked about accusations of boring football.
"You don't have to do anything else. Listen, this is a special European championship where it's very difficult for everyone. So far, the number of goals has been much lower than in the past.
"So, what I know is that we have the ability to share our emotions and make a lot of French people happy through the results we've been able to achieve, especially during this complicated period in our country. Now, if the Swedes are bored, it doesn't really matter to me."
Mbappe's form after sustaining a broken nose in France's opener and that of Antoine Griezmann remain big question marks ahead of the clash with Spain, who overcame a raucous Stuttgart Arena crowd to beat the hosts with a goal in the final minutes of extra time.
Spain are in imperious form with five straight wins so far at Euro 2024 but who will be missing several key players in Munich.
Midfielder Pedri is out of the tournament after sustaining a knee injury in a nasty clash with Germany midfielder Toni Kroos in their dramatic win on Saturday.
Substitute Mikel Merino's header in the 119th minute gave Spain a 2-1 win in a nerve-racking encounter that ended with 16 bookings including a yellow card for centre back Robin Le Normand and a red for fullback Dani Carvajal, meaning both are suspended for Tuesday's game.
Real Madrid defender Nacho will play centre back alongside Aymeric Laporte and 38 year-old full-back Jesus Navas, the last player of Spain's golden generation that won the 2010 World Cup and back-to-back Euro titles in 2008 and 2012.
Navas will share the right-hand channel with 16-year-old winger Lamine Yamal, one of the players of the Euros so far harassing opponents' defences together with Nico Williams, 21.
All in all the team is a blend of deep experience and raw talent that has been thriving under the calm guidance of coach Luis de la Fuente.
"I think that our playing style and our idea is very close to be a nice showdown, when its performed succesfully," said de la Fuente ahead of the semi-final
"In that sense, yes I think we are a very eye-catching tea but right now here its about winning, especially at this point (of the tournament).
"We try to be eye-catchy, to have plasticity and a show when we play, but being practical. Because what's going to be analysed and I'm going to be questioned and valued for is for the result.
"We try to reach that result through a path, and that's why I was saying the other day that our path should be valued, but there's no doubt that what matters in the end at this stage, almost always but more at this stage, is the result."
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