With Spain’s 2-1 victory over France in Munich on Tuesday, Lamine Yamal, 16, became the youngest goalscorer in the tournament’s history and advanced to the Euro 2024 final.
After falling behind after Randal Muani headed in a cross from Kylian Mbappe in the ninth minute, Spain won the game in the next four minutes, scoring twice against a team that had only given up once in their previous five tournament games.
Yamal, who turns 17 the day before Sunday’s final in Berlin against either the Netherlands or England, equalized with an incredible long-range shot that curled into the top corner and went past Mike Maignan’s flying fingertips.
After 25 minutes, Dani Olmo gave Spain the lead with a skillful grab of a loose ball and a low shot that deflected off Jules Kounde and into the net.
After taking the lead, Spain, the masters of midfield game management, shut down, often holding possession rather than counterattacking to control the game and win.
Three-time champions Spain became the first team to win six games at a Euros and are one game away from a record-breaking fourth crown.
Finalists in three of the past four major tournaments, questions will be asked of how France failed to click up front despite boasting enviable attacking riches.
France had only scored three goals heading into the match, none of which were scored by a French player from open play and coach Didier Deschamps reacted, benching forward Antoine Griezmann for Ousmane Dembele.
Yamal created the first chance of the match four minutes in, lofting a curling cross to an unmarked Fabian Ruiz, who headed over from point-blank range.
Kolo Muani’s header gave France the lead four minutes after Mbappe skated down the left flank and attempted a carbon copy of Yamal’s cross.
Although the 38-year-old Jesus Navas and the 34-year-old Nacho of Spain—who took the place of the suspended Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand—were the main pre-match doubters, younger players Aymeric Laporte and Marc Cucurella were to blame for Kolo Muani’s first goal.
Spain appeared to be losing the match after France’s goal, but the team’s youngest player pulled off a brilliant move to tie the score.
Collecting the ball well outside the box, Yamal cut inside, took one look at the 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 scorer in the competition’s history, beating the previous record by a year and a half.
Lamal’s goal, 13 minutes after France’s opener, ignited Spain’s attack and La Roja took the lead four minutes later through Olmo.
Olmo leapt acrobatically to collect a cleared cross, shed a defender and smashed goalwards, his shot taking a deflection off Kounde before bouncing in.
With five minutes remaining, France’s captain had the best opportunity to force extra time, but Mbappe blasted well over the net with only goalkeeper Unai Simon to beat.
