Sports
EURO2024: Spain Defeats France, Advance To Final
Lamine Yamal, 16, became the tournament’s youngest-ever goalscorer as Spain came back to beat France 2-1 in Munich on Tuesday and reach the Euro 2024 final.
Trailing after Randal Muani headed in a Kylian Mbappe cross in the 9th minute, Spain turned the match around in four minutes, scoring twice against a side that had only conceded once in five previous games in this tournament.
Yamal, who turns 17 a day before Sunday’s final against either the Netherlands or England in Berlin, equalised with a superb strike from outside the box, curling a long-range effort into the top corner and past the fingertips of an airborne Mike Maignan.
Spain took the lead on 25 minutes as Dani Olmo expertly gathered a loose ball and fired a low shot into the net with the aid of a deflection off Jules Kounde.
Masters of midfield game management, Spain, shut up shop after taking the lead, frequently holding possession rather than attacking on the counter, controlling the match and claiming the win.
Three-time champions Spain became the first team to win six games at a Euros and are one game away from a record-breaking fourth crown.
Finalists in three of the past four major tournaments, questions will be asked of how France failed to click up front despite boasting enviable attacking riches.
France had only scored three goals heading into the match, none of which were scored by a French player from open play and coach Didier Deschamps reacted, benching forward Antoine Griezmann for Ousmane Dembele.
Yamal created the first chance of the match four minutes in, lofting a curling cross to an unmarked Fabian Ruiz, who headed over from point-blank range.
Four minutes later, Mbappe skated down the left flank and sent in a carbon copy of Yamal’s cross, but Kolo Muani’s header was on target to give France the lead.
While the pre-match doubts focused on Spain veterans Jesus Navas, 38, and Nacho, 34, who replaced suspended duo Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand, the younger Aymeric Laporte and Marc Cucurella were at fault for Kolo Muani’s opener.
France’s strike seemed to take the wind out of Spain’s sails but it was the youngest player on the pitch who produced a piece of sublime brilliance to level the scores.
Collecting the ball well outside the box, Yamal cut inside, took one look at the goal and unleashed a perfect curling strike into the top left corner.
The goal made Yamal, who already has three assists at Euro 2024, the youngest scorer in the competition’s history, beating the previous record by a year and a half.
Lamal’s goal, 13 minutes after France’s opener, ignited Spain’s attack and La Roja took the lead four minutes later through Olmo.
Olmo leapt acrobatically to collect a cleared cross, shed a defender and smashed goalwards, his shot taking a deflection off Kounde before bouncing in.
France’s best chance to force extra time fell to their captain with five minutes remaining, but Mbappe blasted well over with only goalkeeper Unai Simon to beat.
AFP
Neymar said that the 2026 World Cup will be his last adding he was confident that Brazil would qualify for the finals in North America.
“I know this will be my last World Cup, my last shot, my last chance and I will do everything I can to play in it,” the 32-year-old attacker, who has not played for Brazil in more than a year, told CNN.
He also told the American news network in the interview published on Tuesday that he would not rule out reuniting with former Barcelona team-mates Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez at U.S. club Inter Miami.
“Obviously, playing again with Messi and Suarez would be incredible,” Neymar said at an award ceremony in Dubai.
Brazil have struggled in South American World Cup qualifying.
After 12 of the 18 rounds, they are fifth in the 10-nation group. But the top six are guaranteed places in the World Cup and Brazil are five points ahead of Bolivia in seventh.
“I have a lot of faith in the team, in the players who are emerging, who are young,” he said. “We’re not in a position where we would like to be.”
“I think together we can achieve something very big. We have a year, a year-and-a-half to work, to do the right things to reach the World Cup,” Neymar said.
Neymar started Brazil’s first four qualifying games but went off injured at half time as they lost to Uruguay in October 2023. After knee surgery he was out for a year.
He returned for his Saudi club Al Hilal with two brief appearances in October and November but injured a hamstring and has not played since. He said he is targeting the World Cup.
“I want to be there, I’m going to try to do my best, to work very hard so that I can be with the Brazilian team.”
He will be 34 by the time the competition in the USA, Canada and Mexico, kicks off.
He could play in the United States before then. Al Hilal will appear in the expanded Club World Cup in the United States in June where Miami, with Messi and Suarez, will also be competing.
“They are my friends.” said Neymar, who also played with Messi at Paris Saint-Germain. “We still speak to each other. It would be interesting to revive this trio.”
“I’m happy in Saudi Arabia, but who knows? Football is full of surprises.
“When the news came out that I was leaving Paris Saint-Germain, the transfer window was closed in the United States, so I didn’t have this option.”
AFP
Nigerian international Victor Osimhen ruffled a few feathers with his decision to stay at Galatasaray after Manchester United expressed keen interest in the striker.
The 26-year-old, who is on loan at Galatasaray from Napoli, has been the subject of transfer speculation during the January transfer window.
The Super Eagles striker is, however, bent on seeing out his season-long loan spell with the Turkish Super Lig giants.
Osimhen’s decision has reportedly left Napoli president Aurelio de Laurentiis extremely upset.
Amid the ongoing standoff, Osimhen has reportedly reached out to Napoli’s director Giovanni Manna to explain his decision to remain in Turkey.
According to Turkish outlet Persindeyiz Galatasaray, Victor Osimhen explained to Manna that he is committed to spending the entire season at Galatasaray before making a final decision on his future in the summer.
“I made a promise to Galatasaray. I’m quite happy here. The fans love me very much. I can’t leave them. If the teams that made offers still want me in May, we will sit down and talk again,” Osimhen stated.
Osimhen’s statement sets the tone for another interesting summer transfer window after the season.
The former Lille striker was arguably one of the hottest topics in the last transfer window.
Osimhen has been impressive since joining Galatasaray in early September, scoring 13 goals in 16 appearances across all competitions for the club.
Newcastle will be delighted to take a 2-0 advantage into the second leg of this semi-final, which will take place at St James’ Park on 5 February, as they look for their first-ever League Cup title.
Arsenal have left themselves an uphill challenge if they are to win the competition for the first time since 1993.
Up next for Arsenal is an FA Cup third-round clash at home to Manchester United before another massive tie as they host the North London Derby in the Premier League next Wednesday.
Newcastle have a slightly more favourable cup draw as they welcome League Two Bromley to St James’ Park before hosting Wolves in the Premier League in the midweek round of games.
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