Spain faces England in the Euro 2024 final, with teenage stars Lamine Yamal and Kobbie Mainoo shining brightly this summer.
“Better late than never,” said England’s talisman Jude Bellingham in his latest Instagram post following his team’s dramatic win over the Netherlands in the second Euro 2024 semi-final. Ollie Watkins’ spectacular last-minute goal sent the Dutch home, keeping England’s dream of ‘bringing it home’ alive. Amidst the goals and celebrations, a certain teenager in midfield has been quietly grabbing the headlines. Teenage sensation Kobbie Mainoo has had a phenomenal campaign at the base of midfield, building on his impressive season with Manchester United.
England will meet Spain in the final on Sunday. Both teams are incredibly well-rounded on paper, boasting a wealth of experience and quality. However, the tournament’s biggest talking points for both sides have been their teenage prodigies.
Soon-to-be 17-year-old dynamo Lamine Yamal wowed millions, scoring a stunning goal in the semis against France. The Barcelona winger has been outstanding throughout the tournament, becoming the youngest goalscorer ever in the semi-finals of a major tournament. Yamal has tallied four goal involvements so far, making a strong case for being named Player of the Tournament if Spain wins Euro 2024.
Though Mainoo’s contributions aren’t always obvious on the statsheet, his impact has been just as significant as Yamal’s. The 19-year-old has completed more than 95% of his passes with an impressive dribble success rate of 98%. Incredibly composed on the ball, Mainoo plays line-breaking passes and dribbles out of trouble, providing a new dimension to England’s midfield. In the semi-final, Mainoo played a more reserved role at the base of midfield, winning 100% of his duels and tackles. His skillset has allowed Declan Rice to be more expansive, pushing forward at every opportunity.
After a disappointing finals loss in the last Euros, England is determined to make a big impact in Berlin. But they face Spain, who have arguably been the best team to watch so far. As mentioned, all eyes will be on the teenage showdown between Lamine Yamal and Kobbie Mainoo, as they battle to win their nations the big prize.
