Three things we learnt when France are eliminated from Euro 2024 .

Randal Kolo Muani scored early in France's Euro 2024 semi-final versus Spain, their first goal from open play. However, a surprise goal from teenage phenom Lamine Yamal leveled the game before Dani Olmo's powerful strike deflected off Jules Koundé and into the net. France would huff and puff in the second half, but the damage was done. Spain had won, eliminating the pre-tournament favourites from the competition.

France lost the midfield duel.

France's rock-solid defence had been at the heart of their journey to the semi-finals, and for the first time since arriving in Germany, it was tested in the first half by a team who appeared at ease working the ball between the lines. Didier Deschamps' midfield of Adrien Rabiot, N'Golo Kanté, and Aurélien Tchouaméni struggled to protect the backline against a swarm of Spanish players willing to float and shift around the pitch, creating increasingly difficult angles for the white shirts to snuff out.

France preferred Rabiot and Tchouaméni to protect the area directly in front of the centre backs. However, the Spanish midfield's movement, along with Yamal and Nico Williams' desire to drift inside, created a dilemma in which Spain could consistently find a free man to draw the French double pivot out of position. The outcome was clear: a France defense that had never given one goal in the entire tournament up to this point had allowed two in the opening 45 minutes against this Spanish team.

Didier Deschamps was obliged to release the handbrake.

Despite scoring early in the game, France appeared to be a much more upbeat team in the second half, looking to finally take the game to Spain and equalize the score. France tried to attack down the wings and whip in crosses to put pressure on Unai Simón's goal. It felt as if Deschamps' handbrake, which had been firmly kept down throughout the tournament, was ready to release.

This sense was only reinforced when Deschamps rolled the dice and made significant good alterations midway through the second half. The manager substituted Antoine Griezmann, Bradley Barcola, and Eduardo Camavinga for Rabiot, Kanté, and Kolo Muani. When pushed to look for an equaliser, France appeared to be a much more fluid and exciting team.

Despite having more attacking players on the field, the French squad continued to struggle with goal scoring throughout the tournament. France struggled to turn promising moments into threatening shots on goal. Even the late addition of Olivier Giroud failed to provide the necessary quality to open up the Spanish defensive. It will be remembered as a poor tournament for Kylian Mbappé, who only scored once from a penalty.

Olivier Giroud's regretful swan song.

Giroud made it clear before the tournament that this would be his final appearance for France before retiring from international duty. He had expressed wanted to pave the way for the next generation of French attackers to make an impact on the national team. Finally, tonight, Les Bleus' run of seven consecutive international competitions would come to an end with a whimper rather than a bang.

France's all-time leading goal scorer has few opportunity to make his imprint at EURO 2024. Deschamps had misused him throughout the campaign, even as he experimented with lineups and attacking possibilities. Giroud's dedication and physical training were called into doubt, bringing a disappointing conclusion to a wonderful career with the national side.

This tournament will not be remembered as Giroud's most memorable as a France player, but it will serve as a fitting end to a wonderful career. His successors had been given the opportunity to shine and establish their names on the national team, but none had come close to answering the issue of who would follow in Giroud's footsteps.