Lamine Yamal: Spain beats France to reach Euro 2024 final thanks to historic goal from 16-year-old

CNN
—

Lamine Yamal made history by becoming the youngest player to score in a men’s European Championship as Spain beat France 2-1 to reach the Euro 2024 final on Sunday.

France took the lead in the 10th minute after Randal Kolo Muani headed in a Kylian Mbappe cross, but Spain equalised shortly afterwards thanks to a superb long-range shot from 16-year-old Yamal.

Dani Olmo then produced a brilliant effort of his own less than five minutes later to give Spain the lead and it was a win The Red one defended stoically until the final whistle.

Tuesday’s victory also means Spain become the first team to win six consecutive matches at a single European Championship tournament.

Luis de la Fuente’s side will now face either the Netherlands or England, who play on Wednesday, in the final while Spain are chasing a fourth European crown.

Yamal, who received the man of the match award for his performance, celebrates his 17th birthday the day before the final and said his “aim” was to still be in Germany for the occasion.

“We were one goal down and I just got the ball, didn’t think much about it and shot towards goal,” he said, according to AFP.

“We are very, very close. We are very happy. This team is incredible. We deserve it. One step away from glory.”

Few people expected Spain to win the tournament, but The Red one were unequivocally the best team at Euro 2024 and have already knocked out hosts Germany after extra time in the quarter-finals.

The speed and trickery of Yamal and 21-year-old Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams has been one of the highlights of the Spanish tournament – Rodri’s control in midfield is another – and the pair of young attackers will undoubtedly continue to play a vital role for the national team in the years to come.

France, on the other hand, have struggled in this tournament, a problem that has affected many so-called bigger teams.

Blues Les Bleus had not scored a goal from open play throughout the tournament to reach the semi-finals, relying on own goals and a penalty from Mbappe. After breaking his nose in France’s first group match against Austria, Mbappe has not been at his best.

The start of the match was frenetic in Munich and Spain should have taken the lead within five minutes.

Yamal, who was playing on the right side, cut back onto his left foot and sent a delicious cross into the box, which has become a feature of the youth tournament.

His pass was perfect for Fabián Ruiz’s header, but the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder sent his shot over the crossbar while he was completely unmarked at the far post.

It was a miss that Ruiz would regret almost immediately as three minutes later France were in the lead.

Mbappe, finally playing without a mask, crossed towards the far post and Kolo Muani brilliantly broke away from defender Aymeric Laporte to create space and head the ball past the rooted Unai Simón.

Spain struggled to contain French counterattacks. Jesus Navas, 38, replacing the suspended Dani Carvajal at right-back, struggled to contain Mbappe.

But the game changed in the blink of an eye, thanks to teenage sensation Yamal.

Suddenly, the schoolboy, who had promised his teachers before the tournament that he would continue to do his homework in Germany, He stepped back onto his left foot 25 yards from goal and sent a stunning strike off the post and in.

French goalkeeper Mike Maignan had an impressive tournament for Blues but had no chance of stopping Yamal’s arching shot.

It’s hard to understand how someone so young can possess the confidence and self-belief to not only think about taking that shot, but actually execute it to perfection on the biggest stage.

That goal gave Spain a new lease of life and less than five minutes later De la Fuente’s side were in front.

After a cross from Navas in the box was blocked, Olmo made two superb touches to regain control of the ball and deflect it away from Aurélien Tchouaméni, before deflecting his shot to deceive the helpless Maignan.

Spain had responded magnificently to French pressure at the start of the match. It was now the turn of French coach Didier Deschamps to find a way to retaliate.

Just after the hour mark, Deschamps tried his luck. Adrien Rabiot, N’Golo Kanté and striker Kolo Muani were replaced by Bradley Barcola, Eduardo Camavinga and the experienced Antoine Griezmann.

Clear opportunities were rare, however, and France struggled to break down a resolute Spanish defence.

After a promising first half, Mbappe was particularly disappointing in the second half. In the final minutes, a clumsy shot that ended up high in the stands while he was well positioned in the box capped a disappointing evening for Real Madrid’s new star.