Spain have qualified for the final of the 2024 European Championship.
Lamine Yamal’s 25-meter piledriver and Dani Olmo’s strike helped Spain overcome a goal deficit to defeat France in the semi-final at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday.
Thanks to Yamal’s directness and guile, Spain showed character in the thrilling encounter, with all goals coming in the first half.
France took the lead in the eighth minute through Randal Kolo Muani’s header from a Kylian Mbappe assist.
Spain responded in scintillating fashion through an awe-striking effort of Yamal, who broke Pele’s 66-year record of the youngest player to ever participate in a Euro/World Cup semi-final.
The Barcelona winger evaded Andrian Rabiot before delivering an exquisite swerving shot into the top corner from outside the penalty area for 1-1.
The goal makes the 16-year-old the youngest scorer in European Championship history.
Olmo put Spain in the lead four minutes later, evading Aurelien Tchouameni before his shot into the bottom corner was deflected into the net for 2-1 despite Jules Kounde’s best effort.
Both sides continued to threaten after the interval, but France could not find a way through despite introducing Olivier Giroud, the country’s all-time leading scorer.
However, Luis de la Fuente’s La Roja side managed the game better in the closing stages, knocking France out of the tournament and marching to their first Euro final since 2012.
Spain await the winner of the second semi-final tie between England and Netherlands on Sunday. (The Cable)
