MUNICH: Lamine Yamal, 16, became tournament’s youngest ever goalscorer as Spain came back to beat France 2-1 in Munich on Tuesday to reach the Euro 2024 final.
After Randal Kolo Muani headed in Kylian Mbappe’s cross in the ninth minute, Spain turned the game around in four minutes, scoring twice against a team that had conceded just once in their five previous matches at the tournament.
Yamal, who turns 17 a day before Sunday’s final against the Netherlands or England, equalized with a superb strike from outside the box as he curled a long-range effort into the top corner and past Mike Maignan’s mid-air fingertips.
Spain took the lead in the 25th minute, Dani Olmo expertly collecting a loose ball and slotting into the net from a low angle with the help of a rebound from Jules Kounde.
“I got the ball, I didn’t think about it for too long and I just shot,” Yamal said of his brilliant strike. “I’m just enjoying myself and I’m proud to be in the final.
Three-time champions Spain have become the first team to win six games at the Euros and are one game away from a record fourth crown.
“We’re very, very close. This team is incredible. We deserve it.”
This weekend in Berlin, Spain will appear in the final of a major tournament for the first time since the much-vaunted side beat Italy 4-0 at Euro 2012.
Masters of play management in midfield Spain closed shop after taking the lead, often holding the ball rather than attacking on the counter, controlling the game and demanding victory.
“They gave us trouble because they controlled the game better than we did, even though we kept going until the end.
Mbappe looked serious again despite playing without the mask he has worn since breaking his nose in France’s opener against Austria.
France struck early
France scored just three goals in Germany, none of which were scored by a French player from open play, and Deschamps responded by bringing forward Antoine Griezmann on for Ousmane Dembele.
Yamal created the first chance of the match four minutes in when he headed a curling cross to an unmarked Fabian Ruiz, who headed wide from point-blank range.
Four minutes later, Mbappe skated down the left wing and sent a copy to Yamal’s centre, but Kolo Muani’s header was on target to give France the lead.
While pre-match doubts centered on Spanish veterans Jesus Navas (38) and Nacho (34) replacing suspended duo Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand, youngsters Aymeric Laporte and Marc Cucurella were blamed for Kolo Muani’s opener.
Yamal collected the ball well outside the box, cut inside, looked at 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 goalscorer in the competition’s history and broke the previous record by a year and a half.
Lamala’s goal, 12 minutes after France’s opener, ignited Spain and La Roja took the lead four minutes later through Olmo.
Olmo leapt acrobatically to collect a cleared cross, shed a defender and break through, his shot deflecting off Kounde before bouncing in.
France’s best chance to force extra-time fell to their captain with five minutes remaining, but Mbappe did well to beat him with only goalkeeper Unai Simon to beat.
