Spain’s 16-year-old Lamine Yamal turns into youngest-ever scorer at Euros with stunner towards France in semifinal

Spain’s Lamine Yamal, middle, scores his aspect’s first objective throughout a semifinal match between Spain and France on the Euro 2024 event in Munich, Germany, on July 9, 2024.
| Photograph Credit score: AP

Lamine Yamal turned the youngest participant ever to attain on the European Championship when the 16-year-old netted a surprising objective for Spain in its European Championship semifinal 2-1 victory over France on Tuesday.

Yamal will flip 17 on Saturday, a day earlier than the ultimate in Berlin towards both England or the Netherlands.

“I solely ask to win, win and win,” stated Yamal, who was voted participant of the match. “I’ll rejoice my birthday in Germany with my group.”

Yamal struck within the twenty first minute, curling the ball previous France goalkeeper Mike Maignan from round 25 yards and into the highest left nook.

“I don’t know if it’s the finest objective of the event, however it’s the most particular objective for me as a result of it’s my first objective with the group at a European Championship,” he stated.

Yamal is 16 years and 362 days outdated. The earlier youngest scorer at a European Championship was Swiss participant Johan Vonlanthen (18 years, 141 days), towards France at Euro 2004.

“We’re very comfortable to succeed in the ultimate. Now comes a very powerful half — successful the title,” Yamal stated. “We have been in a tough stretch after not anticipating to concede so early. I simply took the ball and wished to place it proper there.

“I don’t attempt to consider it an excessive amount of, simply get pleasure from myself and assist the group, and if it goes my means, then I’m comfortable (for the objective) and for the win.”

Extra data

Yamal got here to Euro 2024 with a bunch of “youngest” data, and has inevitably set extra. He turned the youngest participant to characteristic at a males’s Euro when he began in Spain’s opening 3-0 win over Croatia.

The Barcelona teenager was already the youngest participant to debut and rating within the Spanish league at 15, the youngest participant to start out within the Champions League and the youngest to attain for Spain.

“We noticed a contact of genius by a fantastic participant who everyone knows and should nurture ahead,” Spain coach Luis de la Fuente stated. “And I can solely advise him to maintain going ahead with the identical humility and work ethic and together with his ft firmly on the bottom.

“He’ll maintain bettering with the identical angle, professionality and maturity that he exhibits throughout video games, regardless of being so younger, which makes him look older and extra skilled than he actually is. However above all he ought to get pleasure from enjoying for us. Hopefully we will get pleasure from him for a few years.”

Yamal’s objective Tuesday canceled out Randal Kolo Muani’s opener for France — that was arrange by Kylian Mbappé, who was enjoying with out a masks.

Spain turned the match round 4 minutes after Yamal’s equalizer when Dani Olmo’s goal-bound shot was become the web by France defender Jules Koundé. It was initially adjudged by UEFA to have been an own-goal however was later awarded to Olmo.

“They scored first however we deliberate nicely for the sport and caught to our plan. Lamine scored a fantastic objective,” Olmo stated.

Yamal nearly nabbed one other spectacular objective 9 minutes from time with a strong strike that flew narrowly over the crossbar.

“When there was solely half an hour to go I used to be considering that we have been going to the ultimate,” Yamal stated. “I might solely suppose that.”

“And when the referee blew the ultimate whistle I used to be very comfortable as a result of I at all times bear in mind the final European Championship that I noticed with my associates in a shopping center,” he stated, recalling the final time he needed to watch as a spectator. “This can be a dream come true to succeed in the ultimate with the nationwide group.”