Spain are not kidding

MUNICH, July 10

Spain struck twice in five minutes in a pulsating first half to secure a 2-1 comeback win over France on Tuesday as a record-breaking goal from teenager Lamine Yamal and a Dani Olmo effort propelled them into the Euro 2024 final.

The 16-year-old Yamal cancelled out Randal Kolo Muani’s opener with a sublime shot in the 21st minute to become the youngest scorer in a Euro or World Cup before Olmo added another in the 25th for his third goal in the knockout stage.

The Spaniards, who have won every game of the tournament so far, confirmed their favourites tag with another display of attacking football, especially in the first half, that is a far cry from the tiki-taka passing game that earned them world and European titles more than a decade ago.

“I’m very happy to have made it to the final,” said Man-of-the-Match Yamal. “Now the most important thing is to win it. We were in a difficult moment, you wouldn’t expect a goal so soon. I wanted to put it in where it went in, and I’m very happy. I’m happy and content with the victory.”

It was an anti-climactic end to France’s tournament, although the 2022 World Cup finalists never lived up to expectations with a very low conversion rate that carried into the semis. — Reuters