Spain finished as runners-up in Group A with two wins and one defeat, beaten only by Croatia in a 3-2 reverse on matchday three after picking up impressive victories against Estonia and Belgium.
Their goal tally and the quality of performers across the squad has already marked them out as firm favourites to go deep.
At the centre of everything is Ebrima Tunkara — the 16-year-old La Masia jewel whose performances have generated the most excitement of any player at the tournament so far.
Born in Lamoi, The Gambia in March 2010, Tunkara moved to Spain with his family in 2017, was spotted quickly by scouts from the region, and entered La Masia in 2018. He wears the number ten shirt for Spain's Under-17s and plays as an attacking midfielder with the freedom to drift wide — naturally left-footed, though capable of operating anywhere across the front line. He turns 17 before the next European Under-17 Championship, meaning this is likely his one and only appearance at this level.
The statistics confirm what the eye test already suggests: one goal and four assists across three group-stage appearances, with no player at the tournament having been directly involved in more goals for their team. His involvement in five of Spain's goals puts him in a category of his own.
Scouts from clubs across Europe have been tracking Tunkara for over a year. Barcelona extended his contract to 2029 in January, a strong indication of how highly the club value him internally. Pre-season involvement with Hansi Flick's first team this summer has been mooted in Catalan media. Comparisons to Lamine Yamal are inevitable given the shared production line, though those around the Barcelona academy are careful to note that Tunkara's game is built more on individual invention and directness than Yamal's instinctive wide-play dominance.
His partner in crime in Spain's attack has been Enzo Alves — a 16-year-old Real Madrid forward and the tournament's joint-leading scorer in the knockout stage picture. Son of former Madrid captain Marcelo, Alves carries none of the baggage that lineage might imply. He is a classic penalty-box forward: direct, precise, and lethal at first touch. His two group-stage goals include a delicate chip against Estonia that drew immediate comparisons with his father's famous Bernabéu aesthetic — though the son's instincts are those of a finisher rather than a creator. Alves is attempting to overhaul Croatian striker Jakov Dedic — the overall leading scorer who struck a hat-trick against Spain in the final group game — to claim the Golden Boot.
Behind the star duo, Sergi Mayans of Barcelona has been the defensive cornerstone of Spain's backline. The centre-back was rested against Croatia, and Spain conceded three goals in that game for the first time all season. The correlation was not lost on coach Sergio García.
Christian Imga of Athletic Club has earned his starting position on the left flank after producing a series of commanding performances. At 1.90 metres, physically formidable and technically assured, he draws inevitable comparisons with the Williams brothers — Nico and Iñaki — who emerged from the same Lezama academy. But Imga is his own player, and those who have watched him closely suggest he blends elements of both brothers rather than mirroring either.
Of the other semifinalists, Italy's Diego Perillo of Empoli leads the individual quality charts. His numbers across qualifying and the finals already surpass those posted by Francesco Pio Esposito and Moise Kean at the same age, and he played the decisive role in Italy's opening win over France. His Atalanta academy partner Marcello Fugazzola has contributed a goal and an assist alongside him.
France's principal weapons have been the powerful Troyes winger Christ Batola — a presence at last year's tournament a year underage — and Nantes forward Joshua Dago, who scored in the Youth League this season as a first-year junior. Belgium, who qualified ahead of Spain from Group A, are regarded as the weakest of the four semifinalists. Anderlecht's Onia Seke, a right winger who provided two assists in the opening win over Croatia, has been their most influential individual.
Spain face Italy in the semifinal. On current form, the tie pits the tournament's most dynamic attacking team against its most efficient one — and the winner will start the final as favourite.