Yamal makes history as Spain sink France to reach Euro 2024 final
Lamine Yamal, 16, became the tournament's youngest ever goalscorer
as Spain came back to beat France 2-1 in Munich on Tuesday and reach the Euro
2024 final.
Trailing after Randal Kolo Muani headed in a Kylian Mbappe cross
in the ninth minute, Spain turned the match around in a four-minute period,
scoring twice against a side who had only conceded once in five previous games
in this tournament.
Yamal, who turns 17 a day before Sunday's final against either the
Netherlands or England in Berlin, equalised with a superb strike from outside
the box, curling a long-range effort into the top corner and past the
fingertips of an airborne Mike Maignan.
Spain took the lead on 25 minutes, Dani Olmo expertly gathering a
loose ball and firing a low shot into the net with the aid of a deflection off
Jules Kounde.
Masters of midfield game management, Spain shut up shop after
taking the lead, frequently holding possession rather than attack on the
counter, controlling the match and claiming the win.
Three-time champions Spain became the first team to win six games
at a Euros and are one game away from a record-breaking fourth crown.
Finalists in three of the past four major tournaments, questions
will be asked of how France failed to click up front despite boasting enviable
attacking riches.
France had only scored three goals heading into the match, none of
which were scored by a French player from open play and coach Didier Deschamps
reacted, benching forward Antoine Griezmann for Ousmane Dembele.
Yamal created the first chance of the match four minutes in,
lofting a curling cross to an unmarked Fabian Ruiz, who headed over from
point-blank range.
Four minutes later, Mbappe skated down the left flank and sent in
a carbon copy of Yamal's cross, but Kolo Muani's header was on target to give
France the lead.
While the pre-match doubts focused on Spain veterans Jesus Navas,
38, and Nacho, 34, who replaced suspended duo Dani Carvajal and Robin Le
Normand, the younger Aymeric Laporte and Marc Cucurella were at fault for Kolo
Muani's opener.
France's strike seemed to take the wind out of Spain's sails but
it was the youngest player on the pitch who produce a piece of sublime
brilliance to level the scores.
Collecting the ball well outside the box, Yamal cut inside, took
one look at the goal and unleashed a perfect curling strike into the top left
corner.
The goal made Yamal, who already has three assists at Euro 2024,
the youngest scorer in the competition's history, beating the previous record
by a year and a half.
Lamal's goal, 13 minutes after France's opener, ignited Spain's
attack and La Roja took the lead four minutes later through Olmo.
Olmo leapt acrobatically to collect a cleared cross, shed a
defender and smashed goalwards, his shot taking a deflection off Kounde before
bouncing in.
France's
best chance to force extra time fell to their captain with five minutes
remaining, but Mbappe blasted well over with only goalkeeper Unai Simon to
beat.
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