Euro 2024: Spain 2-1 France

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

In a game billed as the best attacking team in the tournament against the best defence, the opening 25 minutes were among the best of the entire tournament.

Randal Kolo Muani’s header on nine minutes – the first by a French player from open play in their six games – was cancelled out by two fine goals in the space of four minutes.

First Barcelona prodigy Yamal, who turns 17 on Saturday, curled a glorious goal into the top corner on 21 minutes before some dazzling footwork from Dani Olmo saw him lash a second on 25 minutes.

France created some good openings after the interval but Luis de la Fuente’s side managed their way through the game perfectly to avenge defeat in the final of Euro 84 and become the first side ever to win six games at a single European Championship.

They will face England or the Netherlands in the final in Berlin on Sunday night seeking to win their third title.

Spain book their place in the final! 🇪🇸#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 changes. With Robin Le Normand and Dani Carvajal suspended after picking up cards in the quarter-final with Real Madrid skipper Nacho coming into central defence and evergreen Jesus Navas filling in at right-back.

It meant a spot of history for Spain as they fielded not only the oldest outfield player ever to start a Euros semi-final but also the youngest. Navas at 38 years and 231 days old while Lamine Yamal started on the right aged 16 years and 362 days.

Pedri will miss the rest of the tournament after sustaining a knee injury in a challenge from Toni Kroos in the last-four, with Dani Olmo starting in his stead, having come on to score one and tee-up another against Germany.

Blistering start

Fabian Ruiz should have put Spain ahead with a far-post header from Lamine Yamal’s inviting cross after just five minutes as Spain made a dominant start, however he couldn’t keep his header down.

France made them pay from their first chance after just eight minutes, Kolo Muani drifting away from his marker and nodding home at the far post after a curling cross from the mask-less Kylian Mbappe, who had been played onside by the nervy Jesus Navas.

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

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

Navas went into the book for a lunge on Adrien Rabiot on 13 minutes, though it did prevent the Frenchman finding the unmarked Mbappe on the left.

The game swung as Yamal levelled with a stunning strike on 20 minutes – becoming the youngest scorer in European Championship history.

The 16-year-old worked a yard of space on his left foot and picked his spot in the far top corner, firing in off the inside of the post, the first goal from open play Mike Maignan had conceded.

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

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

Some quick feet from Dani Olmo saw the game turned on its head within five minutes, beating Aurelien Tchouameni with a delightful first and second touch after Navas’ cross was only half-cleared and then lashing a low shot across goal which Jules Kounde could not prevent finding the net. Olmo’s third goal of the tournament, plus two assists took him into the lead in the race for the Golden Boot.

Olmo puts Spain ahead 📸#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 near post after the restart but at the other end Nico Williams almost wriggled through a series of challenges, eventually back-heeling to Alvaro Morata who was crowded out in the box.

Theo Hernandez escaped a booking for a late challenge on Yamal before Ruiz saw a deflected shot loop past the post on 35 minutes.

Second half fails to compare

Hernandez blocked a Yamal shot from the edge of the area after a lightning break from Williams before half-time but moments after the turnaround Maignan raced 20 yards out of his area and slid in to dispossess Williams before launching the ball forward, though he seemed to tweak a muscle in the process.

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

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

Tchouameni’s downward header from a corner on 53 minutes ended France’s half-hour wait for a shot on goal while Mbappe cut in from the left but drilled an angled strike straight at Unai Simon soon after.

Daniel Vivian of Athletic Bilbao came on for Navas just before the hour, with Nacho reverting to an unfamiliar right-back role, and soon after Unai Simon had to punch away a Dembele cross.

Tchouameni went into the book for a lunge on Morata before Deschamps rang the changes with Griezmann, Bradley Barcola and Eduardo Camavinga coming on for Adrien Rabiot, Kolo Muani and N’Golo Kante as Les Bleus went for it.

Dayot Upamecano should have done better with a far post downward header from a corner but despite their dangerous set-pieces Olivier Giroud remained on the bench.

Griezmann’s cross caused havoc in the Spain box on 25 minutes and Ruiz cleared only as far as Hernandez on the edge of the box, though he lashed well over the bar on his less-favoured right foot.

Giroud eventually came on for Dembele with a little over 10 minutes remaining but it was Yamal who drove in from the right before whipping a curling shot past the angle of post and bar soon after.

Mbappe raced forward and cut onto his right foot but ballooned his effort over the bar from inside the box.

Spain failed to muster a shot in the second half, though they dominated possession and controlled the tempo in the latter stages, keeping France at arms length.

The future of Deschamps remains uncertain after a campaign in which barely any of his star players performed to the level which had seen them reach the final of the previous three major tournaments.