Lamine Yamal’s remarkable goal and subsequent shouts of “speak now!” took center stage as Spain triumphed over France 2-1 in the Euro 2024 semi-final on Tuesday night. The Barcelona prodigy’s long-range strike leveled the score after Randal Kolo Muani’s header, before Dani Olmo secured Spain’s place in the final.
Prior to the match, France’s Adrien Rabiot had cast doubts on Yamal’s ability to perform under the pressure of a semi-final. “We’ve seen that he’s a player who can handle the pressure,” Rabiot commented. “However, it’s always difficult to handle a semi-final in a tournament like this. It’s down to us to put the pressure on him.”
In an ironic twist, Rabiot delivered a disappointing performance at the Allianz Arena, while Yamal shone with a player of the match display. At full-time, Yamal’s emphatic celebration included the phrase “speak now!” directed towards Rabiot.
Explaining his celebration, Yamal told reporters, “My celebration? It was for the person who knows it is for him. I am very happy for the victory and for helping the team, which is in the final. In the end, we should not give importance to any of that. I have helped the team.”
Spain’s path to the final has been impressive, with Yamal’s goal exemplifying their resilience. “We were in a difficult moment because nobody expected his goal,” Yamal said. “I took it, I didn’t think and I tried to put it in where it went in and that was it. I’m very happy.”
Spain now awaits the winner of the semi-final clash between England and the Netherlands. As they prepare for Sunday’s final, La Roja remains favorites, having delivered consistently strong performances throughout Euro 2024.
