“Insatiable” Spain Go Into the UEFA Euro 2024 Final After France Win

Summary:

• Spain defeated France score 2-1 on Tuesday evening, qualifying for the UEFA Euro 2024 final where they will meet England or the Netherlands.
• This is their first presence at a major tournament in the last 12 years.
• 16-year-old Spaniard Lamine Yamal became the youngest player in history to score in a Euro game.

Spain defeated France 2-1 on Tuesday evening, grabbing a seat in the Euro 2024 final played against England or the Netherlands.

It wasn’t too big of a surprise when in-form Spain, the tournament’s highest scorer, met the French, the lowest scorers left in the competition, and took the early lead.

Historical Night for Lamine Yamal

It all started with Spaniard Lamine Yamal, who made it into history as the youngest player to ever play in an EURO or FIFA World Cup semi-final, delivering an exceptional ball towards the far post.

When Fabián Ruiz failed to steer Yamal’s header on target, the French responded with the game’s opening four minutes later.

It was Kylian Mbappé who took the ball on the left side of the penalty area, lifted a tantalizing cross onto Randal Kolo Muani’s head, and scored Les Bleus’ fourth tournament goal.

Around 15 minutes later, Spain managed to restore parity and also completed the turnaround.

Yamal picked up the ball outside the France penalty box and managed an amazing curling finish, becoming the youngest goalscorer in the history of the championship.

The player who received the Player of the Match title is 16 years and 362 days, thus breaking Pelé’s previous record (17 years and 244 days) as the youngest player to appear in a World Cup or EURO semi-final.

Dani Olmo quickly followed suit. It only took the player who had scored one and also had an assist in the quarter-finals against Germany to strike just four minutes following Yamal’s victory.

While France was still a threat, Unai Simón was successful at sticking out his left arm and preventing Ousmane Dembélé’s tight-angle shot from materializing.

France’s Theo Hernández was close to scoring the equalizer with a quarter of an hour left on the clock.

Mbappé also had a fizzing drive that managed to escape the bar. Nonetheless, Spain stood firm on its way to its fifth EURO showpiece.

Spain, an “Insatiable” Team

Spain’s coach, Luis de la Fuente, called the team “insatiable” and also one that always works “for the common good”.

I’m grateful for being able to lead 26 geniuses on the pitch.

Lamine Yamal said that while he was “thrilled” to be in the final, they “still haven’t done the most important thing, which is win this”.

French coach Didier Deschamps acknowledged Spain’s ability to master the game better than them, admitting they “didn’t perform that well” or “play as vertically” as he would have liked to.

France defender William Saliba expressed his disappointment, arguing they “could have done better” but ultimately admitting “they were better than us and we have to accept that. It’s hard but that’s how it is”.