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"contents": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Spain teenager Lamine Yamal sought to play down excitement on Tuesday over his wonder goal against France, but said reaching the European Championship final was a dream come true for him – and his mother too.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sixteen-year-old Yamal eclipsed Brazilian great Pele to become the youngest player to score in a World Cup or Euros with a stunning 21st-minute strike that sailed into the top corner, helping Spain come from a goal down to beat France 2-1.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He was asked how he felt about scoring what could be the goal of Euro 2024.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“I’m really happy for the victory and for getting to the final. I don’t know if it’s the best goal of the tournament but it’s the most special for me because getting to a final with the national team in the Euros is something super special for me,” he told reporters.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With his creativity, pace and panache, Yamal has glittered as part of a Spain side who have won all their six matches at Euro 2024. They are now within reach of a record-breaking fourth Euros title.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">His coach, Luis de la Fuente, described Yamal’'s goal as “a touch of genius”.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2267415\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-2161378320.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1772\" height=\"1093\" /> <em>Mike Maignan of France fails to save a shot from Lamine Yamal of Spain as he scores his team's first goal during the Euro 2024 semifinal in Munich on 9 July 2024. (Photo: Alex Grimm / Getty Images)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2267424\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-2161376795.jpg\" alt=\"Yamal\" width=\"1802\" height=\"1117\" /> <em>Lamine Yamal celebrates scoring Spain's first goal during their Euro 2024 semifinal against France in Munich on 9 July 2024. (Photo: Dan Mullan / Getty Images)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yamal was asked if he was aware he had become an icon of the tournament and said it did not matter what people thought about his individual contribution.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“I try not to look at that too much. I don’t know if I’m the icon or not. That doesn’t really help anything on the pitch. I need to help my team, that’s what I try to do and that’s what I tried to do today,” he said.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“I was really happy after the final whistle. It’s a dream come true, reaching a final with the senior national team.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He added: “Even my mum said it was her dream too. So I’m really happy that was my goal against France, my first goal against France, in a semifinal.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yamal’s goal and defeat of France was the perfect reply to an earlier remark by French midfielder Adrien Rabiot, who had reportedly said the impressive Yamal would have to do much more against Les Bleus if he wanted to play in the final.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During the match Yamal ran to a television camera, yelling “speak now, speak now”.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He was asked who he was talking to, but declined to say.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“The person I’m talking about, this person will know who this person is,” he said.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2267422\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-2161374708.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1798\" height=\"1112\" /> <em>Spain coach Luis de la Fuente before the Euro 2024 semifinal at the Munich Football Arena on 9 July 2024. (Photo: Stu Forster/Getty Images)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2267421\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-2160756284.jpg\" alt=\"Yamal\" width=\"1731\" height=\"1158\" /> <em>Lamine Yamal of Spain runs with the ball while under pressure from Toni Kroos, David Raum and Jamal Musiala of Germany during the Euro 2024 quarterfinal at Stuttgart Arena on 5 July 2024. (Photo: Clive Mason / Getty Images)</em></p>\r\n<h4><b>Sacrifice</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Spain coach De la Fuente hailed his team’s quality and cohesion in coming from a goal down, a feat he took no credit for and said was all about his players’ insatiable hunger for success.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">De la Fuente said his team had versatility and outstanding individual qualities, which when put together created a special brand of football that would be on show in Sunday’s final, regardless of whether the opponent is England or Netherlands.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“Our idea of football is based on our self-assurance. This is what we want to play, we want to play to our strengths. I know that we are able to play football, we’ve seen it throughout the tournament,” he told reporters.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“Individually they are fantastic, but they offer the collective benefits of their individual qualities… they always work for the common good, for the collective effort.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2267417\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-2161382420.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1727\" height=\"1160\" /> <em>Lamine Yamal of Spain controls the ball as France's Theo Hernandez challenges during the Euro 2024 semifinal. (Photo: Alex Grimm / Getty Images)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2267413\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-2161377234.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1716\" height=\"1154\" /> <em>Dani Olmo of Spain celebrates scoring his team's second goal with teammate Lamine Yamal. (Photo: Alex Livesey / Getty Images)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“They are very generous in their efforts and work rate. This is just one more sign that this is an insatiable team, that they want to keep improving with the spirit of sacrifice.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Spain went behind to an early goal from France’s Randal Kolo Muani before Yamal levelled with a brilliant strike in the 21st minute, then Dani Olmo added a second just a few minutes later in a spectacular first half.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">De la Fuente hit back at critics who had previously questioned some of his decisions and team selections, reminding them that he knew his players best after a long history with many of them.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“I want you to know that this may surprise you more than it surprises us, because we knew the possibilities we had... I know these footballers and I make my decisions based on how much I know them,” he said.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“It’s not out of a whim. You’ve been asking for this player or this other player, when you don’t know the history behind each and every one of them. We do know – me and the technical staff – and I know my players can give much more and they can improve and be even better.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">De la Fuente had special praise for Yamal.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We all know who he is. We need to take care of him,” he said.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“I want him to work with the same humility, keep his feet on the ground in order to keep improving, learning with the same kind of attitude and that professionalism, that maturity that he shows on the pitch.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“He looks like a much more experienced player, to be honest, but fundamentally I celebrate that he’s in our team, that he’s Spanish and that we count on him and I hope we can enjoy him for years to come.” </span><b>Reuters/DM</b>",
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"description": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Spain teenager Lamine Yamal sought to play down excitement on Tuesday over his wonder goal against France, but said reaching the European Championship final was a dream come true for him – and his mother too.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sixteen-year-old Yamal eclipsed Brazilian great Pele to become the youngest player to score in a World Cup or Euros with a stunning 21st-minute strike that sailed into the top corner, helping Spain come from a goal down to beat France 2-1.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He was asked how he felt about scoring what could be the goal of Euro 2024.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“I’m really happy for the victory and for getting to the final. 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They are now within reach of a record-breaking fourth Euros title.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">His coach, Luis de la Fuente, described Yamal’'s goal as “a touch of genius”.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2267415\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1772\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2267415\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-2161378320.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1772\" height=\"1093\" /> <em>Mike Maignan of France fails to save a shot from Lamine Yamal of Spain as he scores his team's first goal during the Euro 2024 semifinal in Munich on 9 July 2024. (Photo: Alex Grimm / Getty Images)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2267424\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1802\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2267424\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-2161376795.jpg\" alt=\"Yamal\" width=\"1802\" height=\"1117\" /> <em>Lamine Yamal celebrates scoring Spain's first goal during their Euro 2024 semifinal against France in Munich on 9 July 2024. (Photo: Dan Mullan / Getty Images)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yamal was asked if he was aware he had become an icon of the tournament and said it did not matter what people thought about his individual contribution.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“I try not to look at that too much. I don’t know if I’m the icon or not. That doesn’t really help anything on the pitch. 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So I’m really happy that was my goal against France, my first goal against France, in a semifinal.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yamal’s goal and defeat of France was the perfect reply to an earlier remark by French midfielder Adrien Rabiot, who had reportedly said the impressive Yamal would have to do much more against Les Bleus if he wanted to play in the final.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During the match Yamal ran to a television camera, yelling “speak now, speak now”.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He was asked who he was talking to, but declined to say.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“The person I’m talking about, this person will know who this person is,” he said.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2267422\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1798\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2267422\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-2161374708.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1798\" height=\"1112\" /> <em>Spain coach Luis de la Fuente before the Euro 2024 semifinal at the Munich Football Arena on 9 July 2024. (Photo: Stu Forster/Getty Images)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2267421\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1731\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2267421\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-2160756284.jpg\" alt=\"Yamal\" width=\"1731\" height=\"1158\" /> <em>Lamine Yamal of Spain runs with the ball while under pressure from Toni Kroos, David Raum and Jamal Musiala of Germany during the Euro 2024 quarterfinal at Stuttgart Arena on 5 July 2024. (Photo: Clive Mason / Getty Images)</em>[/caption]\r\n<h4><b>Sacrifice</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Spain coach De la Fuente hailed his team’s quality and cohesion in coming from a goal down, a feat he took no credit for and said was all about his players’ insatiable hunger for success.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">De la Fuente said his team had versatility and outstanding individual qualities, which when put together created a special brand of football that would be on show in Sunday’s final, regardless of whether the opponent is England or Netherlands.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“Our idea of football is based on our self-assurance. This is what we want to play, we want to play to our strengths. 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This is just one more sign that this is an insatiable team, that they want to keep improving with the spirit of sacrifice.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Spain went behind to an early goal from France’s Randal Kolo Muani before Yamal levelled with a brilliant strike in the 21st minute, then Dani Olmo added a second just a few minutes later in a spectacular first half.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">De la Fuente hit back at critics who had previously questioned some of his decisions and team selections, reminding them that he knew his players best after a long history with many of them.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“I want you to know that this may surprise you more than it surprises us, because we knew the possibilities we had... I know these footballers and I make my decisions based on how much I know them,” he said.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“It’s not out of a whim. 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"social_description": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Spain teenager Lamine Yamal sought to play down excitement on Tuesday over his wonder goal against France, but said reaching the European Championship final was a dream",
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Mike Maignan of France fails to save a shot from Lamine Yamal of Spain as he scores his team's first goal during the Euro 2024 semifinal in Munich on 9 July 2024. (Photo: Alex Grimm / Getty Images)
Lamine Yamal celebrates scoring Spain's first goal during their Euro 2024 semifinal against France in Munich on 9 July 2024. (Photo: Dan Mullan / Getty Images)
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente before the Euro 2024 semifinal at the Munich Football Arena on 9 July 2024. (Photo: Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Lamine Yamal of Spain runs with the ball while under pressure from Toni Kroos, David Raum and Jamal Musiala of Germany during the Euro 2024 quarterfinal at Stuttgart Arena on 5 July 2024. (Photo: Clive Mason / Getty Images)
Lamine Yamal of Spain controls the ball as France's Theo Hernandez challenges during the Euro 2024 semifinal. (Photo: Alex Grimm / Getty Images)
Dani Olmo of Spain celebrates scoring his team's second goal with teammate Lamine Yamal. (Photo: Alex Livesey / Getty Images)