SPAIN have beaten France 2-1 to book their spot in Sunday’s huge Euro 2024 final.
Kolo Muani headed the French in front after superb work from Kylian Mbappe in the build-up.
16-year-old superstar Lamine Yamal bagged a stunning equaliser on 21 minutes to become the youngest goalscorer ever at the European Championship.
Minutes later, Dani Olmo put Spain 2-1 up after a frantic start to the semi-final.
Spain saw out the second half in a professional manner and will play either the Netherlands or England in Sunday’s huge Berlin final.
During the post-match celebrations, La Roja skipper Alvaro Morata was involved in a freak injury after a member of the grounds staff slipped and wiped out the striker.
- Match result: Spain 2-1 France
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‘We are waiting’
In his post-match press conference, Spain boss Luis de la Fuente expressed his delight – and also said he had no preference whether his side faces the Netherlands or England in Sunday’s final.
He said: “We are very happy, the happiness was already great to get here but now it is much greater.
“I feel a lot of pride for these players, they are exceptional, they know how to play and read the games in an extraordinary way.
“We have returned Spanish football to where it belongs. We have to value what these players are doing.
“We want to continue making history, we don’t want to relax, we have to stay focused to face the final in Berlin.
“It doesn’t matter who the opponent is, we’ve already seen the journey we’ve had in this European Championship.
“They are two great rivals and we are waiting for them with open arms. We want to win the final.”
Credit: Getty Luke Littler has his say…
Darts hero Luke Littler took to social media to send a bizarre, hilarious message to his fellow teen sensation.
Yamal became the youngest scorer ever at the European Championships just three days shy of his 17th birthday…
Yamal’s brutal message
In the build up to the game France midfielder Adrien Rabiot had his say on Lamine Yamal and said the teenage midfielder would have to “do much more” to reach the Euro 2024 final.
Rabiot said before the game: “It is always complicated to manage a semi-final in a tournament like this, but it will be up to us to put the pressure on him [Lamine Yamal] above all.
“Not to let him feel comfortable and to show him that to play in a Euro final, he will have to do much more than what he has done so far.”
But Yamal clearly had the last laugh, scoring a brilliant equalising goal as Spain booked their place in Sunday’s showpiece.
Immediately after the game, the Barcelona wonderkid then got his own back on Rabiot, looking straight down the camera and appearing to say: “Speak now, speak now!”.
Morata – how it happened
Video shows the moment a steward slipped over and collided with Alvaro Morata while trying to apprehend a pitch invader:
Shocking moment member of staff injures Spain star moments after reaching Euro 2024 final with victory over FranceMorata latest
Spain manager Luis de La Fuente said: “We will wait until tomorrow.
“We don’t think it’s anything. His leg hurt but we hope he’s going to be OK.”
Credit: PA Olmo at it again
Dani Olmo was not considered a starter in Luis de la Fuente’s Spain side at the start of this tournament – but he has made his omission from Sunday’s final almost impossible.
Having previously starred off the bench, the midfielder became the first Spanish player to score in three successive games at the European Championship with his matchwinner against the French.
He now tops the scoring charts at this summer’s tournament along with four other players, but his two assists means he would currently claim the Golden Boot award.
His five goal involvements at Euro 2024 (three goals and two assists) is the most by a Spaniard at a major tournament since David Silva at Euro 2012 (two goals and three assists).
Ya beauty! Teenager trumps Pele
Lamine Yamal was already guaranteed a place in the record books before he conjured up one of the European Championship’s great moments.
At 16 years and 362 days, the forward became the youngest ever player to appear in the semi-final of a major tournament, beating the record held by a little-known Brazilian named Pele (17y 244d).
And then, in the 21st minute, Yamal conjured up the wonder goal that will be played over and over for years to come.
His 25-yard curler ensured that the Spaniard is now also the youngest player to ever score in a World Cup or European Championship, breaking another record set by Pele against Wales at the 1958 World Cup.
Match stats from Munich
Spain managed just one shot at an xG of 0.01 in the second half…
…but it didn’t matter as they held off France to reach the Euro 2024 final.
Concern for captain during celebrations
The Spanish players and staff are still out on the pitch, celebrating in front of their fans, but there is a slight concern for Alvaro Morata.
The captain appears to have been injured after a member of security slipped and collided into him as the squad gathered by one goal.
Morata was able to limp away from the incident but did not look happy and was moving very delicately, often pausing to hold his knee.
The final is just five days away.
Full time – Spain 2-1 France
It’s all over! Spain are through to the final of Euro 2024!
La Roja have won a sixth successive match at this tournament, and in doing so have knocked out Europe’s best defence, Kylian Mbappe, and a nation that don’t lose semi-finals.
On this occasion, the hero is 16-year-old Lamine Yamaal, who lit up Munich with a stunning equaliser in the first half that made him the youngest goalscorer in European Championship history.
Dani Olmo scored the winner minutes later, fully justifying his inclusion in a patched-up Spain side, and completing a turnaround after Randal Kolo Muani had headed France in front.
Spain march on to Sunday’s final in Berlin, where they will face either England or the Netherlands.
Spain 2-1 France
90+5. Referee Slavko Vincic – with a little help from Luis de la Fuente – moves the awaiting Spain squad back from the touchline as La Roja play keep ball.
Time is almost up, and the Spanish are ready to celebrate.
Spain 2-1 France – Spain double substitution
90+3. Spain’s wonders on the wing take their leave to a tremendous reception.
It’s all been about Lamine Yamal tonight, but Nico Williams has more than played his part.
It’s time for Ferran Torres and Martin Zubimendi to take to the field.
Spain 2-1 France
90+2. All of a sudden, France can not get to the ball.
Spain are doing what they do best: keeping possession.
The olés are ringing around Munich.
Spain 2-1 France – Yamal yellow card
90. The board goes up to signal that France have five minutes to rescue this semi-final.
Meanwhile, Lamine Yamal goes into the book for a tactical foul that brings a fast French break to a shuddering halt.
Scores like a teenager, fouls like an old pro.
Spain 2-1 France – Camavinga yellow card
88. Eduardo Camavinga belts into Marc Cucurella unnecessarily which pleases the watching German fans if nothing else.
As Slavko Vincic flashes his yellow card, the French want to get on with the game while the Spanish protest the rather crude challenge.
Spain 2-1 France
86. Actually, Spain have not used all their substitutes so I’m not sure what the rush was to get Laporte back on.
Maybe they’ve just run out of defenders.
Spain 2-1 France
85. Mbappe on the run! Mbappe in on goal! Mbappe shoots over!
The France captain has a look of shock upon his face, and he’s not the only one inside this stadium.
He had done everything right, sparking the counter and cutting inside Vivian to tee up a strike on his right foot.
He expected to score. We all expected him to score. But instead the ball flew high over Unai Simon’s goal.
Was that the moment?
Spain 2-1 France
83. Laporte walks into Giroud’s shoulder and almost knocks himself out.
Dazed and confused on the turf, the centre-back has blood pouring from his nose while the French substitute looms over him with a shrug of the shoulders.
Spain have made all of their subs too so a groggy Laporte will have to be patched up to play on.
Spain 2-1 France
81. Yamal almost does it again!
From a similar position on the right, the teenager whips a left-footed rocket inches over the French crossbar.
It’s already an incredible story, but that would have made it into an epic Hollywood franchise.
Spain 2-1 France – France substitution
79. He’s big, he’s beautiful, and he’s on to save France’s European Championship.
Record goalscorer Olivier Giroud replaces Ousmane Dembele with one simple mission: score a 58th goal for your country.
Spain 2-1 France – Spain double substitution
77. Now Spain do make their changes.
On comes Mikel Oyarzabal and – hero of the quarter-finals – Mikel Merino.
The pair take over from goalscorer Dani Olmo and goalphobic Alvaro Morata.
Rodri takes the captain’s armband.
Spain 2-1 France
76. Oh, Theo Hernandez!
The French defender is the latest to pass up an opportunity to equalise following an extraordinary sequence of carelessness inside the Spain penalty area.
Camavinga fails to control after two defenders leave it to each other, but somehow it still presents itself kindly for Hernandez to spoon over from the edge of the box.
Spain 2-1 France
74. What’s the Spanish for taking the sting out of the game?
On the touchline, Luis de la Fuente has been waiting to make a couple of changes for several minutes.
Spain 2-1 France
72. Spain defend another corner, prompting a barnstorming run downfield from substitute Vivian.
Captain Morata takes over and tells him ‘none of that’, promptly passing back to Olmo in a defensive position.
Spain 2-1 France
70. It’s now more than 30 minutes of playing time since Spain registered an attempt at goal.
France are dominating possession, and the question is whether they can break the Spanish down.
Will Mbappe have a say in this one yet?
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
