Photocredit (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)AP
Munich: Spain reached the Euro Cup finals after a 16-year-old Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams scored a brace to send Kylian Mbappe’s France into the final. Spain beat France 2-1 in the semi-finals. Spain will face the winner of the England-Netherlands match in the final on the 15th.
Spain is preparing to play its fifth final at the Euro. Spain advanced to the final of the 2024 Euro Cup without losing. It is also special that Spain is entering the final of the Euro Championship for the first time since winning the 2012 Euro Cup. Lamine Yamal (21st minute) and Dani Olmo (25th) were the goal scorers for Spain in the semi-finals. Kolo Muani scored France’s goal in the 9th minute. France conceded two goals after taking the lead in the first half. Spain became the first team in the history of the European Cup to win six games in a row. Without Pedri in midfield and right-back Dani Carvajal, Spain held off a strong French line-up.
16-year-old Lamine Yamal is the youngest player to score a goal at the European Championship. Yamal surpassed Switzerland’s Jonathan von Lathan, who scored at the age of 18 years and 141 days in Euro 2004. Yamal achieved this feat at the age of 16 years and 362 days. Yamal also became the youngest player to play in a Euro when he came on in the first match against Croatia. Yamal, a player for the Barcelona club in the Spanish league, has played a crucial role in Spain’s rise to the Euro this time. Yamal, who plays as a right winger, has scored one goal and three assists so far.
Three goals were scored in the first half. France took the lead in the ninth minute through Kolo Muani. France’s goal came from a pass from French captain Mbappe. Goalkeeper Unai Simon could only watch as Muani headed the ball into the Spanish net. It was France’s first goal from open play at this European Cup. After taking the lead early in the game, France pulled back a little, helping Spain to score two goals in a span of four minutes.
Spain equalized in the 21st minute through Lamine Yamal. Yamal’s wonder kick went over the heads of the French defenders as they watched. Spain took the lead for the first time in the match through Dani Olmo. Dani Olmo’s kick from the French box hit the foot of French player Jules Conte and went into his own net. This was the player’s third goal at the European Cup.
After the first half, France intensified their attacks in the second half, but nothing hit the target. Spain blocked France captain Kylian Mbappe’s many attempts to break through. France brought on Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud in the second half to equalize, but they failed to find the target.
