Speak now, speak now" - Lamine Yamal appears to take dig at France rival after Spain defeat Les Bleus in Euro 2024 SF
Teenage prodigy Lamine Yamal appeared to take a dig at Adrien Rabiot after Spain's 2-1 victory over France in the Euro 2024 semi-final on Tuesday (July 9) in Munich.
La Roja went down in the eighth minute to Randal Kolo Muani but responded impressively. Yamal hauled them back to level terms 13 minutes later before Dani Olmo's deflected strike off Jules Kounde put La Roja ahead.
“Speak now, speak now!” shouted Lamine Yamal in front of the cameras after La Roja's win.
As per transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Frenchman Adrien Rabiot had challenged the prodigal Lamine Yamal before the game by saying that he would need to 'do more' than he had done before to win a semi-final at a big tournament.
"Obviously it could be difficult for him to deal with a semi-final in a big tournament. And to reach a final at the Euros, he needs to do more than he's done up until now," said Rabiot.
However, Yamal was quick to prove him wrong, as he was one of the architects of Spain's victory over Les Bleus. The 16-year-old was everywhere on the pitch and helped in attack and defence as well as orchestrating the midfield by building passing triangles.
The Barcelona wonderkid had posted a cryptic status on his Instagram story on the morning of the semi-final that many (including Romano) speculated to be a disguised response to Rabiot. Yamal alluded to a game of chess and posted a photo with the caption:
"Move in silence only speak when it is time to say checkmate"
Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappe and France ended Euro 2024 on an underwhelming note. They scored only once from open play with Kylian Mbappe scoring another from the spot against Poland. Their two other goals were own goals against Belgium and Austria.
Lamine Yamal creates history in Spain's comeback Euro 2024 win over France
Randal Kolo Muani opened the scoring for France after converting a perfectly measured looping cross from Kylian Mbappe, heading it beyond the outstretched arms of Unai Simon.
However, the lead didn't last long, as Lamine Yamal took two quick stepovers, bamboozled Rabiot and unleashed a shot with geometric precision with his left foot. That made the 16-year-old the youngest scorer in Euro finals history.
The ball evaded the outstretched arms of Mike Maignan, hit the crossbar and went in to make it 1-1 for La Roja. Olmo's shot inside the box hit Jules Kounde four minutes later and deflected into the net.
Spain await England or the Netherlands in the Euro 2024 final at the Olympiastadion in Berlin on Sunday (July 14).