Yamal explains his goal: "I didn't think about it for long and just shot"

Spain is the first finalist of the European Football Championship in Germany: With a 2-1 (2-1) victory over France in Munich’s Allianz Arena, a lot was set for both the second semi-final and the final on Sunday in Berlin.

It was a good idea of the organizers to set off fireworks before kick-off. On the left, the red and yellow of the Spanish team, on the right, the French colors in blue, white and red smoke. The players were fully inspired from the first minute. Even if you don’t need artificial mood enhancers in a modern football arena like the one in Munich.

After just nine minutes, France’s striker Randal Kolo Muani confirmed the prophecy of his former Upper Austrian coach Oliver Glasner: “A world career is planned for Kolo,” the Ried native had predicted regarding the striker, who had followed Glasner’s instructions at Eintracht Frankfurt in the spring of 2023 before Paris Saint-Germain put a transfer fee of 90 million euros on the table to bring the Frenchman home. Kylian Mbappe, a club colleague in attack last season, provided the perfect assist. Kolo Muani was free to head the ball. This was also the first (and last) French goal from open play at this European Championship.

Photo gallery: The youngest and oldest goalscorers in European Championship history

(Photo: (APA/AFP/CHRISTOPHE SIMON)) Bild 1/11

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Spain turned the game around within four minutes

The “fear” of a French retreat quickly disappeared because the Spaniards also had fireworks in store. Within four minutes, the 0-1 became 2-1. Lamine Yamal, who was only 16 years old, not only set the record as the youngest goalscorer at the European Championships. In 2004, ex-Salzburg player Johan Vonlanthen scored for Switzerland once morest France at the age of 18. The Barcelona player also put himself in the running for the “Goal of the Tournament” with his long-range shot into the top left corner (21st minute). “When I scored, I took the ball, didn’t think regarding it for long and just shot,” explained Yamal following the final whistle.

Four minutes later, Dani Olmo confirmed that he feels particularly comfortable in Munich’s Allianz Arena. He had already scored all three goals here in 2023 in Leipzig’s 3-0 win in the German Supercup final once morest FC Bayern. However, the goal once morest France was more important than all previous goals in Munich combined. Although France’s Jules Kounde deflected the ball into his own goal because he was trying to save what might no longer be saved, this goal still belongs 100 percent to Olmo, who had already scored a goal and provided another in the 2-1 win over Germany in the quarter-finals. Olmo also showed once once more that he can do more than just replace the injured Pedri.

Spain’s quarter-final once morest Germany was also omnipresent one round later. Many fans came in white Germany kits. Spain’s full-back Marc Cucurella, whose handball once morest Germany was not awarded a penalty, was booed by the German fans every time he touched the ball – and was celebrated particularly loudly by the Spanish supporters in response, drowning out the “boos” with a “Cucurella”.

Too little for a repeat

In 2006, the French beat Portugal 1-0 in the World Cup semi-final in Munich to reach the final in Berlin. 18 years later, they were unable to repeat this feat. In the end, it was not enough. Despite bringing on Antoine Griezmann, the French were barely able to make any offensive impact. Kylian Mbappe had the best chance to equalize (86′).

The Spaniards no longer had to take any more risks. They will need all their offensive reserves to set off another fireworks display in the final in Berlin on Sunday.

Reactions to the game

Lamine Yamal (Spain goalscorer, Man of the Match): “I’m just enjoying this and I’m happy that we’re in the final. We really want to win this now.”
Dani Olmo (Spain goalscorer): “One step is missing. It’s incredible to be in the final, we deserve it. We didn’t give up following falling behind. Lamine scored an incredible goal. It doesn’t matter who we play once morest in the final.”
Didier Deschamps (French team manager): “The Spanish are a great team, they proved that today. We took the lead, but then we still had problems. They were better on the ball. Maybe we lacked a bit of freshness, we weren’t good at building up play.”