Yamal, Spain – In a Euro-2024 that struggled to deliver exciting performances, Lamine Yamal emerged as a bright spot, propelling Spain to European glory. The FC Barcelona right winger, only 16 years old, made history as the youngest scorer in the history of the competition with a crucial goal in the semi-final against France. His efforts, alongside Nico Williams, were instrumental in revitalizing Spain’s approach to the game, blending effective ball possession with decisive attacking moves.

According to Burkina Information Agency, England displayed notable resilience, navigating through a challenging path to the final. Despite a sluggish start, the Three Lions managed to reach the final, only to be defeated by Spain. The tournament also highlighted the emergence of smaller football nations such as Georgia and Slovenia, both reaching the round of 16 for the first time, underscoring the impact of the tournament’s expansion to 24 teams.

Struggles and Disappointments

The tournament was not without its disappointments, particularly for French star Kylian Mbappé. Expected to lead France to victory, Mbappé’s performance was lackluster; he scored only once via a penalty and appeared out of form throughout the tournament. The French team’s overall performance was underwhelming, with only two wins in six matches and a scant total of four goals.

The competition also marked potentially the final Euro appearances for several seasoned players. Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric, among others, failed to leave a significant mark, signaling possibly the end of their illustrious Euro journeys.