Spain fought back from an early Randal Kolo Muani goal to seal a memorable 2-1 semi-final victory over France in Munich to advance to the final of the European championships (Euros).
A game, much anticipated for its extra intrigue, with the best defensive side in the tournament (France) up against the best attacking side (Spain), delivered excitement for supporters.
France burst out of the traps with skipper Kylian Mbappé, standing a cross up for Randal Kolo Muani, who rose highest at the far post to thump in the opener after 9 minutes.
The unmasked Mbappé, who prior to the game had bemoaned how the mask had tampered with his vision, was running the show until Lamine Yamal produced a moment for the ages.
Yamal picked the ball on the right hand side, shimmied to go one way, turned the other, and hit the ball with his instep, cannoning off the inside of the post and finding the net.
The 16-year-old, who turns 17 a day before the final in Berlin on Sunday, had left the world stunned with his amazing strike; clearly depicted by the dumbstruck expression on injured teammate’s Pedri’s face as he watched on from the sidelines with the suspended Dani Carvajal.
The strike after 21 minutes reinvigorated La Roja and Dani Olmo – scorer in the last 16 tie against Germany – was on hand 4 minutes later to put Spain ahead.
Olmo finished smartly from inside the box, albeit deflecting off Jules Kounde on its way past Mike Maignan, putting Spain in the ascendancy before the interval.
France began to look more like themselves and began to carve openings after the break; Tchouameni had his tame header gathered by Spain’s goalkeeper Unai Simon, before Mbappé’s strike after 56 minutes failed to trouble Spain.
With time running out, Didier Deschamps rang the changes for France just after the hour mark, with Antoine Griezmann, Eduardo Camavinga, and Barcola, coming on for Ngolo Kante, Adrien Rabiot and Randal Kolo Muani.
Despite Deschamps effort, his mini French revolution of bringing on three substitutes changed little in the overall outcome of the game, with Griezmann – who was dropped from the starting XI for the first time in a decade – having the last opportunity for France with a mistimed header.
The Spanish bench – buzzing with excitement- escaped late cautions as the referee, Slavko Vincic, tried to keep a lid on the exuberant celebrations as the entire nation waited with baited breath for the final whistle.
Spain advance to their first European Championship final in 12 years, and have the opportunity to become the outright record holders of the competition if they win against England or the Netherlands in Sunday’s final.
Lethargic France Bow out
Games involving France throughout the Euros had been a hard watch, and the statistics further backed it. With one goal from open play prior to this crucial semi-final tie against Spain, it had proven to be difficult to watch the French team for 90 minutes.
The two own goals – against Austria in the group stage and Belgium in the one-eighth stage – in addition to Mbappé’s converted spot-kick against Poland, had been all the French could show for – until Kolo Muani’s thumping header.
France made their way to the semi final after defeating Portugal on penalties, but never seemed to have recovered from the two quick fire goals from Spain in the first-half.
The 2022 World Cup finalist produced drab performances in Germany and failed to set the tournament alight, despite the plethora of star names at head coach Deschamp’s disposal.
The French manager came under severe scrutiny’s for his pragmatic style showcased in the tournament, lacking the fluidity portrayed in the 2018 and 2022 World Cup’s.
Les Bleues failed to kick out of first gear all tournament, with Mbappé – hampered massively after his nose fracture – a pale shadow of himself.
More records fall for La Roja
Spain have arguably been the best performing side in Germany, with the numbers and records consolidating their supremacy.
The victory against France came with lots of records, as the Spanish side deservedly booked a spot in Sunday’s final with either of the Netherlands or England.
At the tenth time of asking, the Spanish were able to overcome a host nation last time out, be it in a World Cup or Euros game, with Merino’s 119th minute extra time header ousting Germany.
This time around, Lamine Yamal, who started the fighback from a goal, became the youngest player to ever score at the European Championships at 16years 362 days, while the second scorer on the night, Dani Olmo, also etched his name as the first Spanish player to score in three consecutive European Championship knockout games.
Ultimately, the individual records would be seen as peripheries to the main achievement of Spain becoming the first side to win six games in the history of the European Championships.
Undoubtedly, Spain’s performances at the tournament have made them favourites to nick the crown in Sunday’s final, with their last of their three trophies coming in the 2012 edition.
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Story by: Andrews Sefa Bamfo| univers.ug.edu.gh
