A pair of late goals from Isco and Alvaro Morata secured a 3-0 win for Spain over Norway and a place in the European Under-21 Championship final after Rodrigo had given the Spaniards the lead in the final minute of the first half.

Spain were terrific in the opening 45 minutes and would have killed the game off early were it not for a heroic performance from Norwegian goalkeeper Orjan Haskjold Nylan. Isco, by far the tournament's top player, terrorized Norway's back four. He nearly scored twice in the opening 20 minutes after two world class turns had opened up the space for him to shoot. His first effort went narrowly wide, Nylan produced a strong save for the second.

Spain played with their usual fluidity in midfield. Isco started on the left but was given a free role to roam side to side in behind Rodrigo, Christian Tello popped up on both wings and Thiago often dropped into deep positions alongside holding midfielders Asier Illarramendi and Koke to collect the ball. Their fluid movement created overloads throughout the midfield and allowed them to dominate possession as they always do. Isco and Tello provided a vertical threat in the final third. Isco always looked to move towards goal in possession and his penetrating passes in behind the Norway back four for Tello provided Spain with a directness the senior team has lacked in recent years.

Illarramendi, an incredibly well rounded midfielder, has also stood out for Spain at the base of midfield. His tremendous defensive positioning, athleticism and energy levels mean he frequently breaks up opposition attacks with interceptions and tackles but he's also a very technical player with fantastic passing range.

Spain lost urgency in their attacking play in the second half. They continued to dominate possession but Tello and Isco struggled to have an impact for long spells and Nylan was rarely threatened in the Norway goal. Despite Norway's inability to create any meaningful scoring chances for the first 80 minutes of the game, Spain were almost made to pay for their failure to kill the game off when the Norwegians went close with a free kick from the right wing in the final ten minutes.

In the end it was Isco who would ensure passage to the final for Spain with a world class feint at the top of the box and finish into the top corner with the outside of his right boot. Morata would add a third late in stoppage time- his fourth in four game (three of those as a substitute), making him the tournaments leading scorer.

Spain will play the winner of Holland and Italy in the final on Tuesday.

This was a game of two halves with Spain controlling the first with patient buildup play and France dominating the second on the counter.

France defended very deep in the first half with a bank of five in midfield in front of the back four. Only Benzema stayed behind the ball. The deep defensive line allowed Spain's midfield to comfortably dictate the tempo of the game. Very little pressure was put on Xavi and Xabi Alonso in deeper areas. Fabregas, Cazorla and Iniesta all looked to get in space between France's midfield and back four and combined for some tidy interchanges in these areas. Spain caused France the most trouble when they were able to get in between the seams, turn and face the back four, and slide balls in behind the back four.

France should have taken a lesson from Portugal manager Paulo Bento's excellent tactical set up against Spain in the Euros. Bento played his midfielders higher up the pitch and pressed Xabi Alonso and Xavi when they got in possession around the midfield line. This broke up Spain's rhythm and halted service into their more advanced playmakers. The plan was to win possession back higher up the field and then quickly counter through Nani and Ronaldo on the wings. Although Ronaldo missed a decent chance and Portugal never got the goal they needed, the plan frustrated Spain into playing more long passes than they would have liked and the game ultimately ended 0-0.

By playing such a deep line, France gave Spain's deeper lying players the opportunity to pick their heads up and find a penetrating pass forward. Xavi and Xabi Alonso are brilliant passers more than capable of threading a decisive ball through tight areas. France were clearly looking to counter when they did win the ball back. However, with the defense sitting so deep and inviting pressure, when they did win back possession it was in and around their own 18. Spain were able to press immediately, denying France a decent outlet pass and forcing them to launch hopeful long balls for Benzema that Spain were comfortably able to win back. They needed to win the ball back higher up the field to spark quick counters.

In the second half France finally started pressing the Spanish midfield higher up the pitch, unsettling the rhythm they had been able to establish in the first half. Deschamps replaced Menez and Gonalons with more combative midfielders Moussa Sissoko and Blaise Matuidi. Both were outstanding, continuously nicking possession from Spain in midfield and spring dangerous counter attacks, mainly through Valbuena, Ribery and Benzema. They looked excellent on the counter, creating several dangerous scoring opportunities only to be spoiled by some wasteful finishing. The breakthrough finally came in the last minute of stoppage time when Juanfran inexplicably gave the ball way in midfield, allowing one final France counter forward. Matuidi picked the ball off Juanfran and released Ribery down the left. He crossed in for second half substitute Olivier Giroud who made no mistake, heading in on the last play of the game. France were deservedly rewarded for their adventurous play in the second half.