Euro 2024: Kolo Muani scores, but France's adventure ends
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Les Bleus’ adventure at Euro 2024 would come to an end as a stunner from Lamine Yamal combined with a devastating finish from Dani Olmo would see Spain mount a comeback in a matter of minutes. Randal Kolo Muani opened the scoring for France on the seventh minute, but Didier Deschamps’ side couldn’t recover from conceding in quick succession in the first half.
Spain would begin the game on the front foot, with a huge first chance for Paris Saint-Germain man Fabian Ruiz who headed over the bar from Lamine Yamal’s inch-perfect cross. Kolo Muani would respond with a quick surge forward, threading the ball through to an unmasked Kylian Mbappé but Laporte would intervene to clear. The two Bondy boys would combine once more, and this time it led to France’s first goal from open play in the tournament. Mbappé edged into the box, shifted his body and then provided Randal Kolo Muani with a sumptuous cross which was emphatically headed into the back of the net. (8′)
The minutes that followed would be the best that it got for Les Bleus in the tournament, finally looking confident on and off the ball and managing to deal with Spain’s quality in attack. But a moment of quality from Lamine Yamal would turn the game on its’ head. The 16-year-old found some space on the edge of the box and curled a superb effort past Maignan, hitting the post on the way in. (20′)
Perhaps a feeling of shock would be a factor in the ensuing chaos, as France would see themselves go behind in quick fashion after Dani Olmo’s two excellent touches in the box set up a devastating finish which cannoned off Jules Koundé into the back of the net (23′). Les Bleus would head into the second half, somewhat stunned to be a goal down and with a lot of work to do to try and claw back any chance of qualifying for the Berlin final.
The second half saw Didier Deschamps’ side tentatively turn the pressure valve to try and find an all-important equaliser. With a few chances created. Eduardo Camavinga would replace Rabiot, whilst Griezmann came on for Rabiot in a newly-shaped midfield. Mbappé moved centrally whilst Bradley Barcola came on the left side. Spain dropped into a heavily defensive shape, as Barcola injected some new energy down the left side and Mbappé began to drive in towards the box.
Yet, a red and yellow wall would stand resolute, defending in numbers and nullifying France’s attacking threat. A glorious chance would fall to Théo Hernandez following a failed clearance from Fabian Ruiz, but the defender’s effort would fly over the bar. Kylian Mbappé would also have a golden opportunity as he timed his run to perfection into the left side of the box, cutting in, and uncharacteristically blasting over the bar. It was a second half that mirrored much of France’s tournament so far: wasteful in all departments. Spain were technically and tactically superior than Les Bleus, and managed to see out their lead comfortably as they qualified for the final, winning their sixth straight game in Germany.
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