There is a new kid on the block and he is causing havoc at Euro 2024.
Spain reached the final of Euro 2024 on Tuesday thanks to a stunning goal from 16-year-old Lamine Yamal against France.
Tottenham Hotspur star Micky van de Ven might be tasked to mark him if the Netherlands reach the final.
The Spurs speedster is yet to start a game for his country, but there is every chance he could come into the XI for his team’s semi-final showdown with England on Wednesday.
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Either way, is anyone or can anyone stop Lamine Yamal? Even if he was doing what he is doing now in his 20s, it would still be staggering, never mind at 16!
The Barcelona superstar’s outrageous left-footed curler from outside of the box levelled the scores for Spain against France, before Dani Olmo scored what turned out to be the winner.
That goal by Yamal means that he becomes the youngest goalscorer in European Championship history (16 years and 362 days) – that’s some way to write your name into the history books!
Now, he is the talk of the town and if Gareth Southgate’s England reach the final, then they might just be underdogs against this formidable, young, attacking and vibrant Spain team.
Yamal took to Instagram to express his delight with the victory over the French by posting: ‘Come on Spain. We are in the final’.
In the comments section of his post, several players lauded the player, including a message from Tottenham’s Pedro Porro, who missed out on the Spain squad.
Pedro Porro sends a message to Lamine Yamal
The Spurs right-back wrote, and he added Nico Williams to the message: ‘This boy plays too much’. And Ferran Torres labelled the young kid ‘MVP’.
Lamine Yamal is showing England how it should be done
If Yamal was English, you dread to think if Southgate would have picked him at all. The ‘he is too young’ rubbish would have been bandied about.
And even if he was picked, then like Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo for England at Euro 2024, he probably wouldn’t have started until a few games in.
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Given the hype around Yamal, one man who is going unnoticed is the man on the other wing, Nico Williams.
Lamine Yamal has recently urged Barcelona to beat Arsenal and Liverpool to his signature, but you have to wonder why they are expressing themselves so much, playing with such confidence and quality.
Yet, England are just about getting through, sleep-walking their way to the semis despite having a cluster of talented players to pick from.
Remember, Tottenham’s James Maddison was axed from England’s Euro 2024 squad, that’s how much attacking depth Southgate has to pick from.
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