Youngster Lamine Yamal made history on Tuesday as Spain came from behind to beat France 2-1 and reach the Euro 2024 final where they will be bidding for a record fourth title.
Yamal's stunning curling shot into the top left corner in the 21st and Dani Olmo four minutes later reversed the French lead from Randal Kolo Muani's ninth minute header.
Man of the Match Yamal became the youngest ever scorer at the Euros at age 16 years 362 days, and he was the first player to score against France from the flow of play at the tournament. Olmo is now joint tournament top scorer with three goals.
Kolo Muani's strike was France's first goal of their own from open play, the earlier ones for the minimalists being two own goals and a Kylian Mbappe penalty.
Mbappe played without a face mask for the first time since breaking his nose in the opening match against Austria but the superstar was not able to prevent defeat for the twice champions.
Yamal turns 17 on Saturday and hopes to lift the trophy a day later in Berlin with his team which has won all six matches and made the best impression in Germany.
La Roja will face either England or 1988 winners Netherlands, who meet on Wednesday in Dortmund. Spain and Germany are tied on a three titles each, but Spain can now make it four after 1964, 2008 and 2012.
One more step for Spain
"It is one more step now. It is unbelievable that we are in the final," Olmo said.
"It was unfortunate to fall behind but we didn't give up. Lamine scored an unbelievable goal," he said, adding about his own goal which was originally ruled as a Jules Kounde own goal: "It doesn't matter who scored as long as it helps the team.
Yamal said: "It was a difficult situation, we were behind. I am proud that we are in the final. I got the ball and just shot, I didn't think too much."
France coach Didier Deschamps hailed Spain as "a great team," saying: "It was lucky for us that we led but we had difficulties.
"They were better on the ball but we tried until the end. We were a little late, a little freshness was lacking," Deschamps said.
Spain start well but France score
Adrien Rabiot retured from a suspension in France's bid to reach a fourth major final in eight years.
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente had to make three changes, with Olmo starting for injured Pedri, and Jesus Navas and Nacho on for the suspended Dani Carvajal and Robin le Normand.
Spain started well into the duel of the best attack (Spain, 11 goals) and the best defence (France, one conceded) of the Euros.
Fabian Ruiz headed over at the far post off Yamal's cross five minutes into the game, not perfectly timing his effort whe more seemed possible.
France however drew first blood three minutes later when Mbappe got the ball completely unmarked on the left and then chipped towards the far post where Kolo Muani rose between two defenders to head home from close range.
Spain protested in vain that Mbappe may have handled the ball, and the new Real Madrid star had a shot blocked soon after as Les Bleus grew in confidence.
Quick Spanish turnaround
But Spain turned the exciting match on a warm evening upside down within four minutes.
Yamal curled the equalizer in sensational fashion from around 25 metres in off the post for the age record.
Olmo, who had scored the opener and set up Mikel Merino's winner against hosts Germany in the quarter-finals, then got the ball in the French penalty area and shot towards goal before it was turned in by Kounde.
France fight back in vain
France stepped up their efforts after the break, with Aurelien Tchouameni heading into the arms of goalkeeper Unai Simon, who was then also on his guard against Mbappe's shot from the left.
Dayot Upamecano's bouncing header went over in his Bayern Munich home stadium, before Theo Hernandez shot over in the 76th after some rare confusion in the Spanish defence.
At the other end, Yamal came close in the 81st on a rare Spanish attack before Mbappe aimed high from a promising position after a strong run and it was all over when Griezmann headed high deep into stoppage time.
Most Popular
Comments / 0