MUNICH — Spain reached the European Championship final with a 2-1 victory over France on Tuesday, with 16-year-old Lamine Yamal becoming the youngest ever goalscorer at a major tournament.
France took the lead when Randal Kolo Muani headed in a cross from Kylian Mbappé, who played without a mask, before Yamal’s shining moment at 21 minutes. Dani Olmo scored what would be the winner four minutes later.
“We were in a difficult phase after not expecting to concede a goal so soon. I just picked up the ball and wanted to put it right there. I’m very happy,” said Yamal.
“I don’t try to think about it too much, I just have fun and help the team, and if it works I’ll be happy (for the goal) and for the victory.”
Spain, seeking a record fourth European Championship title, will play England or Holland in the final on Sunday in Berlin.
They face each other in Dortmund on Wednesday.
“We knew they were a great team and they proved it again tonight,” said France coach Didier Deschamps. “Although we were lucky to open the scoring, Spain made things difficult for us.
“They were superior in terms of control and technique. The team that gave the best impression was Spain.
There was surprise in Munich when Mbappé entered the field without the mask he has been wearing since breaking his nose in France’s opening game in the Euro 2024 group stage.
Mbappé complained that his mask was holding him back, and ditching it seemed to have an immediate effect, as he created the game’s opening goal in the ninth minute with a tempting cross to the far post that was headed in by Randal Kolo Muani.
That was the first goal France scored at Euro 2024 that wasn’t a penalty or an own goal. Fortunately for Les Bleus, they were also exceptional in defense, allowing just one goal, a penalty taken by Poland’s Robert Lewandowski in the group stage.
But there was no stopping Yamal’s stunning 21st-minute equalizer as he became the youngest player to score at a men’s European Championship – or World Cup – when he slotted past Mike Maignan and hit the left post from 25 yards.
And Spain turned the game around four minutes later when Olmo’s shot was deflected into his own goal by French defender Jules Koundé. It was originally ruled by UEFA as an own goal, but was later awarded to Olmo.
“We are very close, we just need one more step. It’s incredible what the team is doing. We deserve to be in the final, one step away from glory”, said Olmo. “Whether the goal is mine or Koundé’s, it doesn’t matter. A goal is a goal. The important thing is that we are in the final.”
France dominated possession in the second half, but failed to make it count.
Théo Hernández should have done better when he fired a good chance over the post late on, and Mbappé did the same four minutes from time.
Spain could have been further ahead between those opportunities as another powerful Yamal shot went over the post.
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AP writers Joseph Wilson in Barcelona, Spain, and Tom Nouvian in Paris contributed to this report.
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