Spain is clear for the final in the European Championship in football after a lightning-fast turnaround against France.
16-year-old talent Lamine Yamal became historic as the youngest goal scorer in a European Championship in the 2–1 victory.
A really nice goal, says teammate Dani Olmo.
It was full speed ahead from the start when the two football giants France and Spain clashed in the first European Championship semi-final – and it was France who got a dream start to the semi-final.
Just nine minutes into the match came the Frenchmen's first goal in the championship, after Randal Kolo Muani nodded in Kylian Mbappé's pass. France's joy would, however, be short-lived.
It didn't take long before Spain's response came. In the 21st minute, super talent Lamine Yamal equalized with a dream goal – a shot from 25 meters straight into the crossbar – and thereby became historic as the youngest goal scorer ever in a European Championship on the men's side, at 16 years and 362 days.
"Didn't think so much"
We were behind by a goal and I got the ball, I didn't think so much – I just shot at goal, says the 16-year-old about his 1–1 goal according to AFP.
The previous record holder was Swiss Johan Vonlanthen, who in the 2004 European Championship became a goal scorer when he was 18 years and 141 days. On the women's side, Norwegian Isabell Herlovsen holds the record. She was 16 years and 351 days when she became a goal scorer in the 2005 European Championship.
Just four minutes after Spain's equalization came the turnaround to 2–1 – and it was Dani Olmo who did it, via the French defender Jules Koundé's foot.
We played very well, we continued to play our way. A really nice goal by Lamine, he had a fantastic match, says Olmo.
European Championship final on Sunday
France's hunt for an equalizer became fruitless, and 2–1 stood the match out. Thus, Spain is clear for the European Championship final on Sunday.
Spain is a very good team, we knew that and they proved it tonight, even though it was we who opened the scoring. They made it difficult for us because they controlled the match better than us, says France's national team coach Didier Deschamps after the semi-final loss.
In the other semi-final, England and the Netherlands meet on Wednesday evening.
