Published: 08:50, July 10, 2024 | Updated: 12:09, July 10, 2024
Wonderkid Yamal on target as Spain edge France 2-1 to reach Euro 2024 final
By Reuters
France's defender #05 Jules Kounde (up) fights for the ball with Spain's forward #19 Lamine Yamal during the UEFA Euro 2024 semifinal football match between Spain and France at the Munich Football Arena in Munich on July 9, 2024. (PHOTO / AFP)

MUNICH, GERMANY - Spain struck twice in five minutes in a pulsating first half to secure a 2-1 comeback win over France on Tuesday as a record-breaking goal from teenager Lamine Yamal and a Dani Olmo effort propelled them into the Euro 2024 final.

The 16-year-old Yamal cancelled out Randal Kolo Muani's opener with a sublime shot in the 21st minute to become the youngest scorer in a Euro or World Cup before Olmo added another in the 25th for his third goal in the knockout stage.

The Spaniards, who have won every game of the tournament so far, confirmed their favorites tag with another display of attacking football, especially in the first half, that is a far cry from the tiki-taka passing game that earned them world and European titles more than a decade ago.

The Spaniards, who have won every game of the tournament so far, confirmed their favorites tag with another display of attacking football, especially in the first half, that is a far cry from the tiki-taka passing game that earned them world and European titles more than a decade ago

"I'm very happy to have made it to the final," said man-of-the-match Yamal. "Now the most important thing is to win it. We were in a difficult moment, you wouldn't expect a goal so soon."

"I wanted to put it in where it went in, and I'm very happy. I'm happy and content with the victory. I want to win, win and win," added the teenager.

They will now face the winners of Wednesday's match between England and Netherlands in the final in Berlin on Sunday as they hunt a record-breaking fourth European crown.

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Kylian Mbappe of France (center) and Spain's goalkeeper Unai Simon vie for the ball during a semifinal match between Spain and France at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Munich, Germany, on July 9, 2024. (PHOTO / AP)
France's goalkeeper #16 Mike Maignan tackles Spain's midfielder #17 Nico Williams during the UEFA Euro 2024 semi-final football match between Spain and France at the Munich Football Arena in Munich on July 9, 2024. (PHOTO / AFP)

It was an anti-climactic end to France's tournament, although the 2022 World Cup finalists never lived up to expectations in Germany with a very low conversion rate that carried into the semifinal.

"Spain proved tonight that they are a very good team. We were fortunate to open the scoring, but they caused us problems because they were superior in terms of control," said France coach Didier Deschamps.

Spain proved tonight that they are a very good team. We were fortunate to open the scoring, but they caused us problems because they were superior in terms of control.

Didier Deschamps, coach of the French national team

"Tonight they showed all their qualities. We were... perhaps a little less fresh, which led to some technical waste, particularly in the build-up of the game. We didn't push forward often enough."

Spain had an early chance when Yamal, the youngest player to feature in a World Cup or Euro semifinal, floated a cross to the far post but Fabian Ruiz headed over the bar.

France goal

France did better from an almost identical move in the ninth minute with Kylian Mbappe, playing without a mask after breaking his nose earlier in the tournament, crossing for Kolo Muani to head in their first goal from open play at Euro 2024.

But the Spaniards, who were missing suspended Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand as well as injured Pedri, quickly turned the game around.

France's defender #05 Jules Kounde tries to block a pass by Spain's defender #24 Marc Cucurella during the UEFA Euro 2024 semifinal football match between Spain and France at the Munich Football Arena in Munich on July 9, 2024. (PHOTO / AFP)
Spain's Lamine Yamal (center) scores his side's first goal during a semifinal match between Spain and France at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Munich, Germany, on July 9, 2024. (PHOTO / AP)

Lamine Yamal curled a stunning left-footed effort from 25 meters in off the post to break another record held by Brazil great Pele, as the youngest scorer in a Euro or World Cup

Yamal curled a stunning left-footed effort from 25 meters in off the post to break another record held by Brazil great Pele, as the youngest scorer in a Euro or World Cup.

Before France had any time to recover Olmo completed their lightning-quick comeback in the 25th with a shot that was deflected in by France's Jules Kounde.

READ MORE: Spain dig deep to earn dramatic extra time victory over Germany

France, who had only conceded one goal in their previous five games in the tournament, upped the tempo after the break and had chances through Mbappe and Theo Hernandez.

But they could not carve out an equalizer with Spain, pulling back and successfully soaking up the pressure.