– The 16-year-old strikes like a court master. It’s so masterfully done! That’s what news’s commentator Andreas Stabrun Smith said after Lamine Yamal’s post which ensured a 3-0 lead in favor of Spain. On Saturday, the Spanish prodigy made history, when he became the youngest player ever to play in an EC play-off. With his 16 years and 338 days, he broke Polish Kacper Kozłowski’s record from 2021. He was 17 years and 246 days when he played against England in the previous European Championship. 16-year-old Lamine Yamal made history when he was allowed to start against Croatia. He didn’t go away. Photo: AP – Beam And Yamal was not in Germany to be an extra. He wanted to participate in the game to that extent. – It is so sick to be a mainstay in the Spanish national team as a 16-year-old. Martin Ødegaard may have made his debut for the Norwegian national team when he was 15, but Yamal is light years ahead! The fact that they dare to play with a 16-year-old from the start is just extreme, says TV 2’s expert Erik Thorstvedt. The right-winger was particularly active and made life miserable for Croatia’s defenders. In overtime in the 1st half, he was also to score a goal, and thus another record was broken. Spain ran a short corner variant, which ended with the 16-year-old Yamal swinging wonderfully in front of the goal. There, veteran right-back Dani Carvajal had tricked himself between the stoppers, and slipped in 3-0 to the Spaniards. Lamine Yamal (16) was heavily involved on his right wing. Photo: AP Ruiz-show It crowned a period in which Spain had delivered attacking football from the very top shelf. Because just before the half-hour, Fabián Ruiz was to account for a few wild Spain minutes. First, the red shirts took advantage of an unbalanced Croatia when the latter stood high in the field, and Ruiz sent a wonderful breakthrough pass to Álvaro Morata in full fours on the way to the goal. Alone against the goalkeeper, the Atletico Madrid striker was flawless, sending the ball safely into the goal. The jubilation in the Spain swing had hardly died down when Ruiz followed up with a fantastic solo raid. Spain had gotten a little stuck around Croatia’s 16-metre penalty area, before the ball ended up a little randomly with the aforementioned Ruiz. Then the PSG player decided to dance his way through the Croatian defense – including sending Luka Modric into the hot dog stall – before clinching the ball into the far corner. Simply magic from the 28-year-old and 2-0 Spain. Fabián Ruiz had a sparkling 1st half for Spain. Photo: AP Almost That was before Yamal had served Carvajal three goals ahead at the break. Just after the break, it was only a fever rescue that ensured that Yamal did not also become the youngest goalscorer of all time in an EC. Wonderful Spanish play ended with the winger being allowed to finish from an angle alone against the keeper, but the Croatians’ last chance saved the attempt in incredible fashion. But that didn’t mean Croatia was toothless. Because it was almost absurd that the whites and reds didn’t get net recognition earlier in the match. They were close after 55 minutes, when they were able to finish four times against the goal, inside Spain’s 16-metre area. But nothing would get past a hard-working and stingy Spain defence. Penalty drama It was even crazier when Croatia were awarded a penalty 12 minutes before the end, after Unai Simon had given the ball away. Spain player Rodri fouled Bruno Petkovic, who had an empty net, and avoided a red card. The subsequent penalty kick was to be taken by Petkovic himself, and it was saved by Simon. But the rebound ended up with Ivan Perisic, who passed to Petkovic, who again sent the ball into the goal. He thought. Bruno Petkovic puts the ball in the goal, but it is called off for offside. Photo: Reuters Because after a longer VAR check, the bus concluded that the forward was offside, and the net recognition was cancelled. Thus it ended with a Spain victory after a raucous football match. Published 15.06.2024, at 19.56 Updated 15.06.2024, at 20.08
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Spain won over Croatia in the EC group stage – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcast schedule
