No. 8 Spain clinches spot in UEFA Euro 2024 final with 2–1 semis win over No. 2 France

The GIST: One semi down, one to go — and boy was the first match an absolute thriller. No. 8 Spain are through to their first Euro final appearance since 2012 after yesterday’s 2–1 win over No. 2 France. Here’s how it happened and what to expect in the second semi this afternoon.

Spanish teen scores goal of the tourney: France opened the scoring with an eighth minute header, but sixteen-year-old Spanish forward Lamine Yamal quickly equalized, nailing this long range rocket in the 21st minute to become the youngest goalscorer in Euro history, just four days before his 17th birthday. Feliz cumpleaños, indeed.

• Less than four minutes later, forward Dani Olmo buried his third goal in three games, a golazo that would stand as the game-winner for La Roja.

• France’s loss means captain (and typically prolific scorer) Kylian Mbappé exits the tourney having scored only one goal (a penalty in the group stage) — a masked and muted performance that extends Les Bleus’ 24-year Euro trophy drought.

Next up, a clash of the comeback kids: The semis drama continues today at 3 p.m. ET, when No. 7 Netherlands battles No. 5 England. Both squads take the pitch after come-from-behind quarter-final dubs, adding an extra layer of unpredictability to the powerhouse match.

• England is aiming to make their second straight Euro final and find redemption (especially winger Bukayo Saka) after their heartbreaking 2020 loss to Italy, while the Netherlands, led by forward Cody Gakpo, have defeated the Brits in eight of their last nine matches.

• TL;DR? Expect the unexpected from the first whistle.