Lamine Yamal showcased his talent with an outstanding goal, although he also faced disappointment by missing a penalty, as Barcelona’s young prodigy continued his development while helping Spain advance to the Nations League semi-finals.
The 17-year-old captivated the crowd during the thrilling 3-3 draw with the Netherlands on Sunday at a packed Mestalla stadium in Valencia, despite leaving the match with mixed emotions after Bart Verbruggen saved his penalty in the shoot-out.
Spain triumphed 5-4 on penalties, following a gripping 5-5 aggregate score, marking another significant milestone in Yamal’s journey towards football stardom.
Already an essential figure at Barcelona and having clinched the EURO 2024 title with his national team just a day after turning 17 last July, Yamal’s dynamic runs down the right wing have not only entertained fans but also sparked comparisons to the legendary Lionel Messi.
The loudest cheer erupted in the Mestalla as the stadium announcer called out his name, with many fans proudly sporting ‘Yamal’ on the back of their Spain jerseys.
Among the highlights of the evening was Yamal’s spectacular strike during extra time, where he expertly controlled a lofted pass from Dean Huijsen, manoeuvred to create a bit of space, and curled the ball past Verbruggen.
This goal was the ideal response to criticism that had surfaced following a quieter performance in the quarter-finals’ first leg, a 2-2 draw in Rotterdam last week.
“I see things that are starting to irritate me a little… shorts a bit too low, not putting in much effort,” remarked former Netherlands international Rafael van der Vaart.
Yamal took action on the pitch, and later sent a message on Instagram following the match.
“Shorts down, a goal, a missed penalty, and we’re into the semi-finals—come on, Spain!” he posted, alongside a picture of Van der Vaart’s expression.
Yamal is not one to shy away from confronting his critics, as evidenced by his playful jab at Adrien Rabiot during the Euros after netting a stunning goal that helped eliminate France.
Spain are set to face France again in the Nations League semi-finals as they attempt to defend the title they claimed for the first time in 2023.
‘What a disaster’
Yamal’s teammate at Barcelona, Pedri, expressed confidence that the young star would recover from his penalty miss, which was a surprisingly soft shot saved by Verbruggen.
“I told him it was a terrible penalty,” laughed Pedri, who scored Spain’s winning penalty after Donyell Malen faltered for the Netherlands.
“But hey, you learn from these experiences; he doesn’t let the pressure get to him, and you have to take to the spot to experience missing it.
“His calmness continues to amaze us; it’s as if pressure doesn’t affect him when you see how effortlessly he dribbles and plays.
“We need to protect him and, most importantly, relish having him in the team.”
With four goals in 19 appearances for Spain, Yamal plays with the kind of confidence that belies his age.
Defender Marc Cucurella also made light of Yamal’s penalty miss, demonstrating how the Spain squad believes the winger can take a joke in stride.
“When I saw him step up, I was certain he’d score,” said the left-back.
“Then I saw how he struck it and thought, ‘What a disaster!'”
Aside from penalties, Yamal, alongside Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams on the other flank, contributes to making Spain an exceptionally thrilling team to watch.
“We always aim to attack and keep attacking,” stated Spain’s coach, Luis de la Fuente.
“That’s why the fans have enjoyed this so much; at times, the game was utterly chaotic—a spectacle to behold.”
The coach, who has previously noted that Yamal appears to have been “touched by a magic wand,” acknowledged that the young talent is still evolving.
“Lamine is disappointed about the penalty, but he’s pleased overall,” De la Fuente added.
“He provided us with exactly what we needed, but he’s still developing and maturing.”
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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