Lamine Yamal showed a brilliant performance when Spain met France in the EURO 2024 semifinals, Wednesday (10/7/2024). One of his goals officially broke the record as the youngest player to score a goal in the European Cup, and one of his key passes helped La Furia Roja make a comeback. Spain 2, France 1. Sensational Yamal!
Competing at the Allianz Arena, France with a change in formation ala Deschamps managed to take an early lead through Randal Kolo Muani’s header in the 9th minute. However, Lamine Yamal was able to appear brilliantly by scoring a beautiful goal in the 22nd minute. Three minutes later, Dani Olmo scored Spain’s second goal and was the last in this match.
Lamine Yamal now holds four records at once during the EURO 2024 event. He is the youngest player, the youngest assist provider, the youngest player to compete in the knockout phase, and the youngest goal scorer in the history of the European Cup tournament.
The trust of coach Luis De La Fuente was truly repaid by this Barcelona player. On stage with Kylian Mbappe, he was not afraid, and was able to defeat his rivals in La Liga next season.
Mbappe himself has taken off his mask in this match. However, from his movements, it can be seen that there is something that still makes him uncomfortable. The first half was quite good for him, but in the second 45 minutes, Mbappe was completely isolated in the front line.
Luis De La Fuente brought in Nacho and Jesus Navas as replacements for Robin Le Normand and Dani Carvajal who had to serve suspensions. They both guarded La Furia Roja’s back line with goalkeeper Unai Simon, Aymeric Laporte plus Marc Cucurella.
Meanwhile, Pedri’s injury against Germany allowed Dani Olmo to start in this match. One goal from the RB Leipzig player will make him ready to face the Final match this weekend.
On the French side, Deschamps could actually make a “masterpiece” substitution by bringing in Ousmane Dembele to replace Antoine Griezmann. The first twenty minutes were Les Blues’ best game during EURO 2024, relying on last season’s PSG trio, Mbappe, Dembele and Kolo Muani.
Spain started the match well with their short passes. Fabian Ruiz almost opened the scoring in the 5th minute. Lamine Yamal’s crossing was towards the far post, but unfortunately Fabian Ruiz’s header only soared over the crossbar.
France opened the scoring through Randal Kolo Muani’s header in the 9th minute! Ousmane Dembele from the right side moved the ball to Kylian Mbappe on the left. The French star pushed into the penalty box, then gave a pull pass which was met by Kolo Muani’s header at the far post. Unai Simon was helpless.
With almost the same scheme, France almost doubled the score in the 18th minute. Controlling the ball on the right side, Dembele moved quickly to Theo Hernandez across from him. The AC Milan captain immediately gave the ball to Mbappe. Cutting inside, unfortunately Mbappe’s shot was blocked by Nacho.
Lamine Yamal equalized the record and equalized in the 22nd minute! Getting the ball in front of the penalty box, Yamal tricked Rabiot before sending a beautiful curved shot into the top right corner of Maignan’s goal. The ball touched the post before hitting the net.
Sensational! With this goal, Lamine Yamal officially became the youngest player to score a goal in the European Cup at the age of 16 years and 362 days.
Dani Olmo scored Spain’s second goal in the 25th minute! Yamal spread the attack ball to the right side to Jesus Navas. The 38-year-old Sevilla captain immediately sent a crossing pass in front of the goal which was blocked by William Saliba.
The second ball was successfully controlled by Dani Olmo in the penalty box. Once tricking Tchouameni, Olmo kicked the ball that Maignan could not reach. Jules Kounde managed to block but the ball hit his foot and went into Les Blues’ goal.
In this first half, Deschamps’ strategy of moving the ball between the sides could initially work well. However, Les Blues’ midfield and back lines were not as solid as in previous matches. Having only conceded a goal until the quarter-finals, in this one match Maignan’s net had been breached twice in the first half.
The second half began, Tchouameni failed to take advantage of a big chance in the 53rd minute. Dembele’s corner kick was right towards Real Madrid’s anchor in the penalty box. Unfortunately, the direction was still right into the middle of Unai Simon’s embrace.
Three minutes later, Kylian Mbappe got a shooting space in the penalty box. Again, the ball was still right in the direction Unai Simon was standing. After this opportunity De L
a Fuente withdrew Jesus Navas to be replaced by Dani Vivian. This means Nacho will shift to the right side to guard Mbappe.
Deschamps made three changes at once in the 62nd minute, so that his team would be more attacking. N’Golo Kante, Adrien Rabiot and Kolo Muani were out, while Antoine Griezmann, Bradley Barcola and Eduardo Camavinga were in.
Talking about N’Golo Kante, he was rarely involved in important moments because he was in a “special war” with Rodri in midfield. The two players were seen guarding each other even when not holding the ball. With the new changes, France will be more attacking and Rodri will have open space in midfield.
Theo Hernandez missed an opportunity to equalize in the 75th minute. Barcola’s high ball was successfully returned by Dembele into the penalty box. Camavinga struggled to win the ball, but Theo who got the shooting space still couldn’t send the ball on target with his right foot.
Yamal almost scored his second goal in the 81st minute. Winning a running duel with Theo Hernandez, the Barcelona player made a cut-in shot which this time was still wide on the right side of Maignan’s goal.
The last chance for Les Blues was obtained by Griezmann in the 90+4′ minute. Welcoming Barcola’s cross, the substitute’s header was still above the crossbar.
The final whistle was blown, Spain officially set foot in the EURO 2024 Final match! They will then wait for the winner between the Netherlands and England a day later.
The real battle between the two teams was presented in the first half. Rumors of benching Griezmann had been mentioned by Deschamps during the training session, that maybe one of his stars would be parked in this match.
The reason, of course, was the lack of goals scored by France until the quarter-final phase, which was only able to score 3 goals, 2 of which were own goals for the opponent.
The 4-3-1-2 formation was changed to 4-3-3, with Ousmane Dembele, who was Man of the Match in the match against Portugal, replacing Griezmann in the left wing position.
This change surprised Spain with Kolo Muani’s first goal. The strategy was clear, Deschamps wanted Dembele and Mbappe to exchange crosses, which were continued with a surprise into the penalty box.
However, this rhythm was suddenly stopped by Lamine Yamal’s sensational action with his first goal. Yamal did not move sideways, but rather filled the middle line. At this point, Theo Hernandez was a little confused in marking.
Spain’s second goal also started with Yamal’s position in the middle sector, spreading the ball to Jesus Navas. Not guarded tightly, Dani Olmo managed to make an easy finish in the penalty box.
Indirectly, benching Griezmann to bring in Dembele carries the risk of reducing players in the French middle sector. It was not Marc Cucurella who did the task as an inverted-fullback, but rather Lamine Yamal who added the number of Spanish players in the midfield.
As a result, N’Golo Kante, Rabiot and Tchouameni were outnumbered. The French back line was easily penetrated, and the two goals were born.
ASL
