July 9 – What a goal, what a player. And not a bad team either. Sixteen-year-old Lamine Yamal entered footballing immortality tonight by becoming the youngest player ever to score in a major men’s tournament as Spain reached the final of Euro 2024.
Before the game, France’s Adrien Rabiot tweeted that if Yamal wanted to play in Sunday’s final he would “have to do more things than he has so far”.
How he must be regretting calling the mercurial teenager’s talent into question.
There were 21 minutes on the clock when Yamal, his team trailing to an early French strike, produced the most audacious of equalisers before his team went on to win 2-1 and remain on course for a record fourth Euro triumph.
Lamine Yamal under pressure from Adrien Rabiot who he made eat his social media posts
On a sultry night in Munich, goal-shy France, one of the pre-tournament favourites who had not scored a single goal from open play, were looking to silence the critics and duly stunned their opponents after just eight minutes.
Ousmane Dembele spun a fine ball out to Kylian Mbappe – at last minus the protective mask that had inhibited both his vision and his general team play. Cue a delectable cross toward the back-post for Randal Kolo Muani to head home.
It was just the just the start Didier Deschamps’ side needed as Mbappe threatened to finally make his mark on the tournament after a series of below-par performances.
Randal Kolo Muani oscored first for France from an Mbappe cross
Instead the night belonged to Yamal and a goal that will be remembered for generations to come as he swayed one way and then other, bamboozling Rabiot in the process it has to be said, before maintaining his balance and unfurling a sublime curler into the far top corner.
Four minutes later, before anyone had time to catch their breath, came what turned out to be the winner. Dani Olmo, in the starting eleven only because of an injury to Pedri, took two touches before leathering a…
Source link : https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2024/07/09/yamal-wonder-goal-sets-spain-french-win-trip-berlin/
Author : Paul Nicholson
Publish date : 2024-07-09 22:03:36
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