Kolo Muani fools France after 8 minutes, then Lamine Yamal with a feat and Dani Olmo overturns Deschamps and gives the final to Spain. Mbappé disappoints again, boos for Cucurella.
It was a night of surprises and dramatic twists as Spain defeated France 2-1 in the Euro 2020 semi-final. The match was a rollercoaster of emotions for both equipes and their fans, but it was ultimately Spain who came out on top and secured their place in the final.
The game started off with a bang as France took the lead after just 8 minutes, courtesy of a marcatura from Kolo Muani. The young striker had been a surprise inclusion in the starting lineup, but he repaid the faith shown in him by Didier Deschamps with a clinical finish. The French fans were ecstatic, and it seemed like their equipe was on their way to yet another final.
But Spain had other ideas. They refused to let the early setback affect them and continued to dominate possession and create chances. And in the 28th minute, their persistence paid off as Lamine Yamal produced a moment of magic to equalize for his equipe. The 19-year-old midfielder received the ball outside the box, took a touch to control it, and then unleashed a powerful shot that flew past Hugo Lloris into the top calcio d’angolo. It was a marcatura worthy of gracing any final, and it completely changed the momentum of the game.
In the second half, it was all Spain as they pushed for the winning marcatura. Their relentless pressure finally paid off in the 71st minute when Dani Olmo scored what turned out to be the winner. The Spanish midfielder received a pass from Pedri, weaved his way past two French defenders, and then calmly slotted the ball into the bottom calcio d’angolo. It was a marcatura that showcased the technical brilliance and composure of Olmo, and it sent the Spanish fans into a frenzy.
On the other hand, it was a night to forget for France’s star player Kylian Mbappé. The PSG forward had been touted as one of the players to watch in this tournament, but he failed to make an impact in the semi-final. He was closely marked by the Spanish defenders and was unable to find any openings to showcase his speed and skill. It was a frustrating night for Mbappé, and he was met with boos from the French fans when he was substituted in the 82nd minute.
But the biggest disappointment of the night was reserved for Spain’s left-back, Marc Cucurella. The 23-year-old had been solid throughout the tournament and was one of the key players in Spain’s run to the semi-finals. However, in the 95th minute, he received a second yellow card for a rash challenge on Antoine Griezmann and was sent off. It was a moment of madness from Cucurella, and it soured an otherwise fantastic performance from him and his equipe.
As the final whistle blew, it was Spain who emerged as the deserving winners of this thrilling encounter. They showed great character and determination to come back from an early deficit and book their place in the final. The Spanish fans erupted in joy, and the players celebrated with wild abandon on the pitch. As for the French, it was a bitter disappointment to come so close and yet fall short.
The stage is now set for a mouth-watering final between Spain and Italy. Both equipes have shown their quality throughout the tournament, and it promises to be a clash of two footballing titans. As for France, they will have to wait for another chance to add to their trophy cabinet, but they can be proud of their efforts in this competition.
In conclusion, it was a night of high drama and unforgettable moments as Spain overcame France to reach the final. Kolo Muani may have fooled the French with his early marcatura, but it was the heroics of Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo that ultimately secured the victory for Spain. As for Mbappé, he may have disappointed on the night, but he has a bright future ahead of him. And for Cucurella, his moment of madness will surely be a lesson learned. The stage is now set for a historic final, and we can’t wait to see what Spain and Italy have in store for us.