Ben Pawlowski
SPAIN will have the opportunity to win the UEFA European Championship for a record-breaking fourth time on Sunday after La Roja continued their remarkable run with a thrilling win over pre-tournament favourites France.
On a sticky, humid evening in Munich, Spain and France played out an absorbing, end-to-end clash that justified the hype and plaudits that described this semi-final dual as a potential game of the tournament.
But it is Spain, described by many as the tournament’s best side, who will head to Sunday’s showpiece final in Berlin where they will face either England or the Netherlands for the trophy,
Luis de la Fuente’s side have lit up the tournament with a dynamic, enthralling style personified by their youthful attack, including 16-year old Lamine Yamal and 21-year old striker Nico Williams.
But it was Didier Deschamps’ star-studded French side who started the strongest.
Despite entering the tournament as hot favourites, France have laboured through the group stage, Round of 16 and quarter-final.
But Les Bleus took the lead in surprise fashion with their first goal of Euro 2024 from open play, with a de-masked Kylian Mbappe, nose recovering, clipping in a delightful cross to Kolo Muani who evaded the Spain’s French-born centre back, Aymeric Laporte, to head home the opener.
Would this be the moment that the much-lauded France finally clicked into gear?
No. Just ten minutes later Spain rallied back with an equaliser, with Yamal, undoubtedly the star of the tournament, to thank.
The prodigiously talented 16-year old wonderkid became the youngest ever European Championship goalscorer in trademark fashion, cutting inside outside the box before unleashing a deliciously powerful and swerving strike which sailed into the top corner.
Young player of the tournament, player of the tournament and goal of the tournament? Yamal could claim all three.
Dani Olmo, another Spanish starlet who has impressed throughout the summer, received the ball on the edge of the box before driving a spot towards the bottom corner.
The ball took a deflection off Jules Kounde, diverting its path away from the outstretched Mike Maignan.
Spain took the opportunity to sit back, solidify their defence, and preserve their goal, with Unai Simon making a number of key stops.
France rallied and persevered, but to no avail, so Spain will head to Sunday’s final, likely as favourites to clinch an unprecedented fifth title.
