Lamine Yamal shines as Spain beat France 2-1 to reach Euro 2024 final

Trailing after Randal Kolo Muani headed in a Kylian Mbappe cross within the ninth minute, Spain turned the match round in a four-minute interval, scoring twice in opposition to a facet who had solely conceded as soon as in 5 earlier video games on this event.

Yamal, who turns 17 a day earlier than Sunday’s last in opposition to both the Netherlands or England in Berlin, equalised with an outstanding strike from outdoors the field, curling a long-range effort into the highest nook and previous the fingertips of an airborne Mike Maignan.

Spain took the lead on 25 minutes, Dani Olmo expertly gathering a unfastened ball and firing a low shot into the web with the help of a deflection off Jules Kounde.

Masters of midfield sport administration, Spain shut up store after taking the lead, steadily holding possession somewhat than assault on the counter, controlling the match and claiming the win.

Three-time champions Spain grew to become the primary crew to win six video games at a Euros and are one sport away from a record-breaking fourth crown.

Finalists in three of the previous 4 main tournaments, questions shall be requested of how France didn’t click on up entrance regardless of boasting enviable attacking riches.

France had solely scored three objectives heading into the match, none of which had been scored by a French participant from open play and coach Didier Deschamps reacted, benching ahead Antoine Griezmann for Ousmane Dembele.

Yamal created the primary likelihood of the match 4 minutes in, lofting a curling cross to an unmarked Fabian Ruiz, who headed over from point-blank vary.

Four minutes later, Mbappe skated down the left flank and despatched in a carbon copy of Yamal’s cross, however Kolo Muani’s header was on track to provide France the lead.

While the pre-match doubts centered on Spain veterans Jesus Navas, 38, and Nacho, 34, who changed suspended duo Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand, the youthful Aymeric Laporte and Marc Cucurella had been at fault for Kolo Muani’s opener.

France’s strike appeared to take the wind out of Spain’s sails however it was the youngest participant on the pitch who produce a bit of elegant brilliance to degree the scores.

Collecting the ball effectively outdoors the field, Yamal minimize inside, took one have a look at the objective and unleashed an ideal curling strike into the highest left nook.

The objective made Yamal, who already has three assists at Euro 2024, the youngest scorer within the competitors’s historical past, beating the earlier document by a yr and a half.

Lamal’s objective, 13 minutes after France’s opener, ignited Spain’s assault and La Roja took the lead 4 minutes later by way of Olmo.

Olmo leapt acrobatically to gather a cleared cross, shed a defender and smashed goalwards, his shot taking a deflection off Kounde earlier than bouncing in.

France’s greatest likelihood to drive additional time fell to their captain with 5 minutes remaining, however Mbappe blasted effectively over with solely goalkeeper Unai Simon to beat.

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