Euro 2024: Spain 2-1 France

Spain booked their place within the ultimate of Euro 2024 after seeing-off France 2-1 within the semi-final in Munich due to a breath-taking aim from 16-year-old Lamine Yamal.

In a recreation billed as the perfect attacking crew within the event towards the perfect defence, the opening 25 minutes have been among the many better of the complete event.

Randal Kolo Muani’s header on 9 minutes – the primary by a French participant from open play of their six video games – was cancelled out by two superb objectives within the house of 4 minutes.

First Barcelona prodigy Yamal, who turns 17 on Saturday, curled a wonderful aim into the highest nook on 21 minutes earlier than some dazzling footwork from Dani Olmo noticed him lash a second on 25 minutes.

France created some good openings after the interval however Luis de la Fuente’s aspect managed their method by the sport completely to avenge defeat within the ultimate of Euro 84 and grow to be the primary aspect ever to win six video games at a single European Championship.

They’ll face England or the Netherlands within the ultimate in Berlin on Sunday night time looking for to win their third title.

Spain ebook their place within the ultimate! 🇪🇸#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/9xororAdFU

— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) July 9, 2024

Griezmann dropped

Antoine Griezmann was dropped by France coach Didier Deschamps with Ousmane Dembele coming in and Adrian Rabiot recalled after suspension.

Spain made three enforced modifications. With Robin Le Normand and Dani Carvajal suspended after selecting up playing cards within the quarter-final with Actual Madrid skipper Nacho coming into central defence and evergreen Jesus Navas filling in at right-back.

It meant a spot of historical past for Spain as they fielded not solely the oldest outfield participant ever to start out a Euros semi-final but additionally the youngest. Navas at 38 years and 231 days outdated whereas Lamine Yamal began on the proper aged 16 years and 362 days.

Pedri will miss the remainder of the event after sustaining a knee damage in a problem from Toni Kroos within the last-four, with Dani Olmo beginning in his stead, having come on to attain one and tee-up one other towards Germany.

Blistering begin

Fabian Ruiz ought to have put Spain forward with a far-post header from Lamine Yamal’s inviting cross after simply 5 minutes as Spain made a dominant begin, nevertheless he couldn’t maintain his header down.

France made them pay from their first probability after simply eight minutes, Kolo Muani drifting away from his marker and nodding house on the far put up after a curling cross from the mask-less Kylian Mbappe, who had been performed onside by the nervy Jesus Navas.

Flying ✈️#EURO2024 | #ESPFRA pic.twitter.com/iwCO9esQFR

— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) July 9, 2024

Navas went into the ebook for a lunge on Adrien Rabiot on 13 minutes, although it did forestall the Frenchman discovering the unmarked Mbappe on the left.

The sport swung as Yamal levelled with a shocking strike on 20 minutes – turning into the youngest scorer in European Championship historical past.

The 16-year-old labored a yard of house on his left foot and picked his spot within the far high nook, firing in off the within of the put up, the primary aim from open play Mike Maignan had conceded.

Gorgeous. #EURO2024 | #ESPFRA pic.twitter.com/IpaxuIqYbK

— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) July 9, 2024

Some fast ft from Dani Olmo noticed the sport turned on its head inside 5 minutes, beating Aurelien Tchouameni with a pleasant first and second contact after Navas’ cross was solely half-cleared after which lashing a low shot throughout aim which Jules Kounde couldn’t forestall discovering the web. Olmo’s third aim of the event, plus two assists took him into the lead within the race for the Golden Boot.

Olmo places Spain forward 📸#EURO2024 | #ESPFRA pic.twitter.com/e3finIYjNC

— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) July 9, 2024

Ousmane Dembele’s low cross skewed into the side-netting neat Unai Simon’s close to put up after the restart however on the different finish Nico Williams nearly wriggled by a collection of challenges, finally back-heeling to Alvaro Morata who was crowded out within the field.

Theo Hernandez escaped a reserving for a late problem on Yamal earlier than Ruiz noticed a deflected shot loop previous the put up on 35 minutes.

Second half fails to check

Hernandez blocked a Yamal shot from the sting of the world after a lightning break from Williams earlier than half-time however moments after the turnaround Maignan raced 20 yards out of his space and slid in to dispossess Williams earlier than launching the ball ahead, although he appeared to tweak a muscle within the course of.

Magic Mike Maignan 👏#EURO2024 | #ESPFRA pic.twitter.com/Jtj9mFhmcE

— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) July 9, 2024

Tchouameni’s downward header from a nook on 53 minutes ended France’s half-hour await a shot on aim whereas Mbappe lower in from the left however drilled an angled strike straight at Unai Simon quickly after.

Daniel Vivian of Athletic Bilbao got here on for Navas simply earlier than the hour, with Nacho reverting to an unfamiliar right-back function, and shortly after Unai Simon needed to punch away a Dembele cross.

Tchouameni went into the ebook for a lunge on Morata earlier than Deschamps rang the modifications with Griezmann, Bradley Barcola and Eduardo Camavinga approaching for Adrien Rabiot, Kolo Muani and N’Golo Kante as Les Bleus went for it.

Dayot Upamecano ought to have carried out higher with a far put up downward header from a nook however regardless of their harmful set-pieces Olivier Giroud remained on the bench.

Griezmann’s cross brought on havoc within the Spain field on 25 minutes and Ruiz cleared solely so far as Hernandez on the sting of the field, although he lashed nicely over the bar on his less-favoured proper foot.

Giroud finally got here on for Dembele with slightly over 10 minutes remaining nevertheless it was Yamal who drove in from the proper earlier than whipping a curling shot previous the angle of put up and bar quickly after.

Mbappe raced ahead and lower onto his proper foot however ballooned his effort over the bar from contained in the field.

Spain did not muster a shot within the second half, although they dominated possession and managed the tempo within the latter phases, protecting France at arms size.

The way forward for Deschamps stays unsure after a marketing campaign during which barely any of his star gamers carried out to the extent which had seen them attain the ultimate of the earlier three main tournaments.