Spain v France LIVE: Euro 2024 result and final score as Lamine Yamal wondergoal knocks out Kylian Mbappe
Spain 2-1 France: The 16-year-old Lamine Yamal scored a stunning goal as La Roja advanced to the Berlin final, where they will face England or the Netherlands
Your support helps us to tell the story
My recent work focusing on Latino voters in Arizona has shown me how crucial independent journalism is in giving voice to underrepresented communities.
Your support is what allows us to tell these stories, bringing attention to the issues that are often overlooked. Without your contributions, these voices might not be heard.
Every dollar you give helps us continue to shine a light on these critical issues in the run up to the election and beyond
Eric Garcia
Washington Bureau Chief
Spain’s Lamine Yamal scored a wondergoal to become the youngest scorer in men’s European Championship history to help knock out tournament favourites France and reach the final of Euro 2024.
The 16-year-old fired a stunning strike into the top cover from outside the penalty area to equalise after Randal Kolo Muani’s early opener in the semi-final in Munich. And Dani Olmo then struck moments later to give Spain the lead, as his goal-bound shot deflected in off France defender Jules Kounde.
Spain looked to contain France in a tight second half that saw few chances, but captain Kylian Mbappe blazed over the bar when finally getting a sight of goal and manager Didier Deschamps’ attacking changes did not help to force a late equaliser as La Roja held on.
Spain are through to their first men’s final since last winning the Euros in 2012 and will face either England or the Netherlands in Berlin on Sunday. Gareth Southgate’s side play the Dutch tomorrow night looking to reach consecutive Euro finals after defeat to Italy three years ago.
Follow all the latest updates from Spain v France below:
France reached semi-finals as Portugal dragged down by Ronaldo
Six and out. Cristiano Ronaldo’s sixth and last European Championships came to an end as Portugal paid for an impotence that stemmed from affording their captain privileged status. They went out on penalties, Joao Felix rolling his spot kick against the foot of the post as everyone else scored, but after a second successive stalemate, after 364 minutes without scoring.
If it is an equally damning statistic that no France player has scored for them in open play this tournament, five did in a shootout. Diogo Costa had saved a trio of Slovenian spot kicks in the last 16 but Ousmane Dembele, Youssouf Fofana, Jules Kounde and Bradley Barcola all found the net, allowing Theo Hernandez to set up a superpower semi-final against Spain.
Gifted Portugal dragged down by Ronaldo the anchor in underwhelming Euro 2024 exit
Portugal 0-0 France (France win 5-3 on penalties): Ronaldo offered little despite his privileged status as undroppable and France ended their penalty hoodoo to squeak into the semi-finals
France prepare for semi-final versus Spain
Here’s a look at the French team going through their training sessions ahead of tonight’s crucial semi-final clash in Munich:
Pre-match thoughts from Didier Deschamps
The France coach said: “[Spain] have had the best Euros so far and have left the best impression after every game.
“All Spain teams have always had a good midfield who are able to control games. Rodri in particular is essential to the Spanish team, but all their players are important.”
Rabiot backing Griezmann to perform
Atletico Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann is another French forward yet to find their shooting boots but teammate Adrien Rabiot says the players are all behind the struggling attackers.
“I think everyone is surprised because we know what Antoine is capable of,” Rabiot said, “We saw what he pulled out of the bag at the World Cup, where he was at the peak of his powers as a player.
“I don’t know the reason. We have high expectations when it comes to Antoine and we expect a lot because he’s capable.
“If someone’s having a rough patch then we’re here to support them, but obviously it’d be better if we had the Kylian and the Antoine [we know] playing here at the Euros.”
Dani Olmo is Spain’s antidote to France’s anti-football at Euro 2024
It’s perhaps a triumph of tactics, or simply a triumph of circumstance: France have got to the semi-finals of Euro 2024 without scoring a goal in open play through any of their own 26 members of the squad.
Didier Deschamps’ side have been totally unconcerned by having possession for large stretches of matches. They haven’t really created too many chances either – certainly not in the way that the calibre of players at their disposal would suggest that they might do.
They rank 11th in the tournament for average possession per game. They’ve created the same number of big chances at the Euros as Austria or Turkey. They’ve only scored three in total across five matches and two of them were own goals.
Dani Olmo is Spain’s antidote to France’s anti-football at Euro 2024
With Pedri suspended, his alternate in the No 10 role holds the keys to unlock Didier Deschamps’ side
Mbappe in right ‘headspace’ despite poor form
France’s lack of goals have been in part due to the disappointing form of forwards Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele.
Mbappe, in particular, has struggled since being forced to wear a mask after breaking his nose during France’s opening 1-0 win against Austria.
The striker scored eight of France’s 16 goals at the World Cup in Qatar two years ago but has only netted once so far in Germany and that was from the penalty spot.
“We are convinced Kylian is in the right headspace, as are all of our players,” France boss Didier Deschamps said, “He had an issue with his back, took a blow to the nose - it could have been the end of the road for him but he’s still here.
“His field of vision is changed and it was a huge shock to him but I’m convinced he will do everything he can [against Spain].”
Spain v France
Meeting in the Euro 2024 semi-final, and having already met in the group stage (1996), last 16 (2006), quarter-finals (2000 and 2012) and final (1984) of major tournaments, Spain v France will be just the third fixture to be played at each stage of World Cup and Euros, along with Italy v Spain and England v Germany.
Deschamps says people ‘can watch something else’ if they are bored with France
Didier Deschamps says people who are bored with his France team’s style of play can watch something else instead of Tuesday’s Euro 2024 semi-final with Spain.
Les Bleus have been criticised for the lack of entertainment in their performances matches despite having reached the last four of the tournament in Germany.
However, none of their players have scored a goal from open play with their three goals so far being two own goals and a penalty scored by Kylian Mbappe.
In Monday’s pre-match press conference Deschamps was asked about playing “boring football” to which he responded: “If you are bored, watch another game - you don’t have to watch us, it’s fine.
“Maybe it’s not the same as it was in the past, but we do have the capability to spark emotions and make lots of French men and women happy with our results, especially after a difficult period in our country.”
Meet Lamine Yamal, the 16-year-old Spain wonderkid lighting up Euro 2024
Exactly one year ago Lamine Yamal was playing in the quarter-finals of the U17 European Championships in front of only a few hundred supporters. Skipping past defenders for fun, he registered an assist and scored once in Spain’s 3-0 victory over the Republic of Ireland.
At just 15 years old, he was one of the youngest players competing in the U17 competition at the time. Yet he already stood out among his peers, finishing as the joint top-scorer of the tournament – despite Spain crashing out to France in the semi-final.
Meet Lamine Yamal, the 16-year-old Spain wonderkid lighting up Euro 2024
Lamine Yamal has starred in Spain’s run at Euro 2024, and Bence Bocsak has witnessed the Barcelona wonderkid’s rise through the Spanish youth teams to this summer’s tournament in Germany
Pre-match thoughts of Luis de la Fuente:
“We’re facing a football superpower, a great opponent. They are not just powerful as a team, physically very strong, very quick; they also have brilliant individual players.
“Undoubtedly, they have some of the best in the world. We’re going to demonstrate all of our potential. I think we’re on the same level as them, both collectively and individually – it’ll be a brilliant spectacle.”
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments