Spain Beats France: Lamine Yamal's Historic Goal Secures Euro 2024 Final

In Sunday's Euro 2024 final, Spain advanced with a 2-1 victory against France, largely thanks to a goal by Lamine Yamal, who became the youngest player in tournament history to score.

France grabbed the lead within the first ten minutes when Randal Kolo Muani headed in a cross from Kylian Mbappé. However, Spain quickly equalized the scores with a breathtaking long-range strike from 16-year-old Yamal.

Less than five minutes later, Dani Olmo equalized it with a spectacular effort of his own, putting Spain ahead. La Roja resolutely held their advantage until the final whistle.

With their triumph on Tuesday, Spain became the first team in European Championship history to win six consecutive matches.

In their quest for a record-tying fourth European Championship title, Luis de la Fuente's squad will meet either Wednesday's opponents, the Netherlands or England, in the championship match.

The day before the final, Yamal celebrated his 17th birthday and said his "goal" was to still be in Germany for the celebration; he was named man of the match for his performance.

"We were a goal down and I just got the ball, I didn’t think about it much and then shot towards the goal," he said, per AFP.

"We are very, very close. [We're] with a lot of happiness. This team is unbelievable. We deserve it. One step away from glory."

Blazing Spain

Even though nobody predicted Spain would win Euro 2024, the Spanish national team has been outstanding, and they have already eliminated tournament hosts Germany in the quarterfinals after extra time.

One of the most impressive aspects of Spain's tournament thus far has been the play of Nico Williams, a 21-year-old winger for Athletic Bilbao. Yamal and Rodri's command of the midfield has been nothing short of spectacular. Williams and Yamal will remain pivotal to the national team's success in the future.

France has faltered in tournament play, as have many of the so-called stronger teams.

The French national team advanced to the semifinals despite failing to score in their open-play matches. Instead, they relied on their own goals and a penalty kick from Kylian Mbappé. Mbappé has unsurprisingly struggled after breaking his nose in France's first group match against Austria.

Madrid started frantic, and Spain had a golden opportunity to go up in the first five minutes.

One of the trademarks of the young player's competition, Yamal swung back onto his left foot as he played right wing and blasted an excellent cross into the area.

Even though Fabián Ruiz was completely unmarked at the far post, the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder sent his header wildly over the crossbar after an inch-perfect pass.

Three minutes later, France took the lead, and Ruiz quickly came to regret the error.

Kolo Muani did a fantastic job going by rooted Unai Simón after expertly slipping off the back of defender Aymeric Laporte. Mbappé, who was finally playing without a mask, sent a cross towards the far post.

The Spanish defense seemed unsettled and could not halt the French retaliation. In particular, 38-year-old right defender Jesus Navas, who was filling in for the suspended Dani Carvajal, was suffering misery against Mbappé.

However, everything changed instantly when adolescent superstar Yamal entered the picture.

Surprisingly, 25 yards from goal, the student—who had previously assured his professors that he would complete all of his schoolwork while in Germany—shifted to his left foot, bent a tremendous attempt that went in off the post, and out came the schoolboy.

Although France goalie Mike Maignan had an excellent campaign for Les Bleus, he could not save Yamal's long-range attempt.

For someone so young to have the audacity to consider taking that shot, much less pull it off flawlessly on the world stage is a mystery.

De la Fuente's team went ahead less than five minutes after the goal, which gave Spain a much-needed boost.

After two exquisite moves, Olmo drew the ball in from Aurélien Tchouaméni's reach, then drilled a deflected attempt past a defenseless Maignan after Navas's cross into the box had been blocked.

In the face of France's first push, Spain had answered beautifully. France coach Didier Deschamps was now tasked with devising a strategy to mount a comeback.

Deschamps rolled the dice just after the hour mark. Bradley Barcola, Eduardo Camavinga, and the seasoned Antoine Griezmann replaced Adrien Rabiot, N'Golo Kanté, and goal scorer Kolo Muani. As a result of Spain's tough defense, France needed more clear-cut opportunities.

Following an encouraging first half, Mbappé's second-half performance was underwhelming. In the last minutes of the match, the new Real Madrid star had a poor performance, culminating in a shot that went high in the bleachers despite being in a great position inside the penalty area.

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