Spain battled back from an early deficit to defeat France 2-1 at the Munich Football Arena on Tuesday, July 9th, securing a place in the EURO 2024 final.
The match was highlighted by a historic performance from 16-year-old prodigy Lamine Yamal, who became the youngest scorer in European Championship history.
France struck first, with Randal Kolo Muani heading in a superb cross from Kylian Mbappe in the 9th minute. Kolo Muani’s goal was first and last French goal from open play at this year’s tournament.
Despite the early setback, Spain showed resilience and determination, led by the brilliance of Yamal, who by playing in the semi-final, had already broken a record of becoming the youngest ever player to feature in an competitive semi-final since Pele in 1958.
At just 16 years and 362 days young, Yamal etched his name into the history books once again with a stunning equaliser in the 21st minute.
Demonstrating extraordinary skill and composure, he dodged past Adrien Rabiot and unleashed a precise curling shot from 25 yards that struck the post before finding the back of the net.
His goal not only leveled the score but also ignited Spain’s comeback. Yamal’s historic moment was quickly followed by Dani Olmo’s decisive goal just four minutes later.
Olmo’s exquisite touch allowed him to evade Aurelien Tchouameni, and his powerful shot deflected off Jules Kounde into the net. Initially credited as an own goal, it was rightly awarded to Olmo after review.
France, despite the early brilliance of Mbappe, struggled to regain their footing in the latter minutes of the half.
The French captain, who had removed his protective mask after recovering from a broken nose, remained a constant threat but was unable to break through Spain’s steadfast defense.
Unai Simon’s strong performance in goal further frustrated the French attack, ensuring the La Roja went into half-time leading Les Bleus.
The second half saw France make several substitutions, including the introduction of Antoine Griezmann, Bradley Barcola, and Eduardo Camavinga, in an attempt to turn the tide.
However, Spain’s defense, comprised of Nacho and Aymeric Laporte, and supported by Marc Cucurella, who had received gears from German fans for the most part of the game, held firm and Spain sealed a famous victory to progress to the EURO 2024 final.
Spain’s victory, though, was not without its challenges. Alvaro Morata, the Spanish captain, limped off the field after a post-match collision with a stadium personnel member, raising concerns ahead of the final.
However, Yamal’s extraordinary performance was a testament to his immense talent and potential. His goal and overall play were pivotal in Spain’s triumph, marking a coming-of-age moment for the young Barcelona star.
The teanager has now scored one goal and provided three assists, putting him in contention for the player of the tournament accolade at this year’s Euros.
Spain have now beaten France, Germany, Croatia and Italy on the road to the final. They now look ahead to the EURO 2024 final at the Olympiastadion in Berlin on Sunday, July 14th, where they will face either England or the Netherlands.
The final, which will be live on NBS Sport, will be Spain’s first since 2012 and the three-time European champions will be aiming to etch their name in the record books by winning a record 4th Euro title.
