Spain beat France 2:1 thanks to a strong performance. The key figure: 16-year-old Lamine Yamal. Marc Cucurella had to take a hit

Lamine Yamal is just 16 years old. On the evening of France’s European Championship semi-final against Spain (1:2), however, there was little evidence of this. Not only because he managed his post-match interviews so confidently. But above all because he worked his magic on the pitch as if he had been in the business for years

Proof of this: In the 21st minute, Yamal got to the ball around 30 meters from the opposition goal. He dribbled in briefly, shot almost from a standing start and placed the ball precisely at the inside left post. “It was a difficult situation, we were behind. I didn’t think about it for long, I just shot,” said Yamal in the TV interview after the game.

In fact, his Spaniards were 1-0 down at the time. Kylian Mbappé had served Randal Kolo Muani, who didn’t need to be asked twice to head in from a few meters out to make it 1-0 (9′).

Marc Cucurella, of all people, had lost sight of Kolo Muani. The handball offender from the Germany game had to listen to the whistles of disappointed German fans throughout the game, who vented their anger at being denied a penalty on Friday. “I don’t care,” said Cucurella. We have to stay focused. When people talk about it, it’s part of the game. We’re just happy.”

European Championship excitement? 16-year-old Spaniard Yamal shrugs it off, birthday the day before the final

After Cucurella’s positioning error, however, it didn’t take long for Yamal to equalize and for Dani Olmo to score the winner (25′). The fact that he led the Spaniards to the final at the tender age of 16 with an outstanding performance? Yamal doesn’t think too much about that. “I’m enjoying it and I’m proud that we’re in the final.”

One day before that final on Sunday, July 14, Yamal will also be 17 years old. “I want to win, win, win. My goal was to celebrate my birthday in Germany. We achieved that,” he said happily. And then he also received the award for “Man of the match”. Yamal pulled out his cell phone and grinned into the camera. The braces flashed. At this moment, it shone through once again that this Yamal is just 16 years old.

“I don’t care” – Germany fans whistle at hand-sinner Cucurella, Yamal cheers the final

Spain beat France 2:1 thanks to a strong performance. The key figure: 16-year-old Lamine Yamal. Marc Cucurella had to take a hit

Lamine Yamal is just 16 years old. On the evening of France’s European Championship semi-final against Spain (1:2), however, there was little evidence of this. Not only because he managed his post-match interviews so confidently. But above all because he worked his magic on the pitch as if he had been in the business for years

Proof of this: In the 21st minute, Yamal got to the ball around 30 meters from the opposition goal. He dribbled in briefly, shot almost from a standing start and placed the ball precisely at the inside left post. “It was a difficult situation, we were behind. I didn’t think about it for long, I just shot,” said Yamal in the TV interview after the game.

In fact, his Spaniards were 1-0 down at the time. Kylian Mbappé had served Randal Kolo Muani, who didn’t need to be asked twice to head in from a few meters out to make it 1-0 (9′).

Marc Cucurella, of all people, had lost sight of Kolo Muani. The handball offender from the Germany game had to listen to the whistles of disappointed German fans throughout the game, who vented their anger at being denied a penalty on Friday. “I don’t care,” said Cucurella. We have to stay focused. When people talk about it, it’s part of the game. We’re just happy.”

European Championship excitement? 16-year-old Spaniard Yamal shrugs it off, birthday the day before the final

After Cucurella’s positioning error, however, it didn’t take long for Yamal to equalize and for Dani Olmo to score the winner (25′). The fact that he led the Spaniards to the final at the tender age of 16 with an outstanding performance? Yamal doesn’t think too much about that. “I’m enjoying it and I’m proud that we’re in the final.”

One day before that final on Sunday, July 14, Yamal will also be 17 years old. “I want to win, win, win. My goal was to celebrate my birthday in Germany. We achieved that,” he said happily. And then he also received the award for “Man of the match”. Yamal pulled out his cell phone and grinned into the camera. The braces flashed. At that moment, it shone through once again that this Yamal is just 16 years old.