Lamine Yamal etched his name in history with a record-breaking goal before Dani Olmo fired Spain into the UEFA Euro 2024 final with a 2-1 victory over France.
Spain have reached the final of UEFA Euro 2024 after knocking out Kylian Mbappe’s France.
16-year-old Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo found the back of the net in four minutes and nine seconds to take the lead after initially falling behind early.
The match started with France on the front foot and it didn’t take long for them to break the deadlock. Randal Kolo Muani scored the fastest goal in the knockout stage of the tournament in the 8th minute, assisted by Kylian Mbappe.
Kylian Mbappe picked him out well at the far post and the PSG forward slotted past Unai Simon with ease. It was Kolo Muani’s 1st goal of the tournament and his 5h goals for France, four of which have come in matches he has started.
He started ahead of Antoine Griezmann, a decision by Didier Deschamps that raised eyebrows ahead of kickoff but was soon justified. It was France’s 87th open-play goal attempt at goal and finally resulted in their first goal from open play in the tournament.
Spain responded perfectly and an incredible strike from Lamin Yamal, assisted by Alvaro Morata, equalized. His long-range effort made the Barcelona forward the youngest-ever goalscorer at a major international tournament, breaking the previous record held by Brazil’s Pele since the 1958 World Cup.
Dani Olmo’s brilliance then saw Spain take the lead when he beat Aurelien Tchouameni with one touch, tackled another, and then fired an effort on goal. Jules Kounde only got to it with his foot on the line, but eventually slotted it into the back of his net. The shot was on target and therefore the goal was awarded to Olma rather than going as an own goal.
France had chances to equalize in the 2nd half but the best fell to the wrong man when Theo Hernandez hooked over the bar. Deschamps made tactical changes as he brought on Griezmann and Mbappe moved into a centre-forward role as Bradley Barcola replaced striker Muani.
Spain player ratings
GK: Unai Simon – 6/10
RB: Jesus Navas – 5/10
CB: Nacho Fernandez – 7/10
CB: Aymeric Laporte – 6/10
LB: Marc Cucurella – 7/10
CM: Rodri – 8/10
CM: Fabian Ruiz – 7/10
RW: Lamine Yamal – 9/10
AM: Dani Olmo – 9/10
LW: Nico Williams – 7/10
CF: Alvaro Morata – 6/10
SUB: Daniel Vivian – 6/10
SUB: Mikel Merino – 7/10
SUB: Mikel Oyarzabal – 6/10
SUB: Ferran Torres – N/A
SUB: Martin Zubimendi – N/A
France player ratings
GK: Mike Maignan – 6/10
RB: Jules Kounde – 5/10
CB: Dayot Upamecano – 5/10
CB: William Saliba – 5/10
LB: Theo Hernandez – 4/10
CM: Aurelien Tchouameni – 5/10
CM: N’Golo Kante – 5/10
CM: Adrien Rabiot – 2/10
RW: Ousmane Dembele – 4/10
CF: Randal Kolo Muani – 7/10
LW: Kylian Mbappe – 6/10
SUB: Bradley Barcola – 6/10
SUB: Antoine Griezmann – 5/10
SUB: Eduardo Camavinga – 5/10
SUB: Olivier Giroud – 5/10
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