by Lamine Yamal scored a brilliant goal, but also missed a penalty in another night of growth for Barcelona’s teen star when Spain reached the semi-finals of the Nations League.
The 17-year-old delighted on Sunday during the 3: 3 draw against the Netherlands in a sold-out Mestalla Stadium in Valencia, even if he had a bitter-sweet feeling when Bart banged him in the shootout.
After an extremely entertaining 5: 5 overall tie 5-4, Spain drove in punishments, another springboard on his journey to the top of the game.
An important player for Barcelona and already won with his country Euro 2024, one day after July 17th last July, Yamal’s ideas on the right flank draw the audience on the feet and compare with Argentina Great Lionel Messi.
The loudest roaring when the home team was read out by the Mestalla Stadium announcement was reserved for his name, and “Yamal” was printed on the back of more than a reasonable proportion of the Spanish shirts that flooded through the goals.
The highlight of the night for many was Yamal’s breathtaking extension strike, who checks Dean Huijsens with a skillful film to make a farm out of space and bend the ball in the Netherlands in the Netherlands.
It was the perfect ripste for criticism that appeared after a relatively quiet night in the 2-2 quarter-final in the first leg in Rotterdam last week.
“I see things that bother me a little … Shorts a little lower without making a lot of effort,” said former Netherlands National player Rafael van der Vaart.
Yamal replied on the field and was then a contribution on Instagram after the game.
“Shorts Down, a goal, a missed penalty and the semi -finals, come to Spain!” wrote Yamal on the social media platform, including a photo of Van der Vaart’s face.
Yamal is not shy to shy his critics back on his critics, as he showed during the euro with a push in Adrien Rabiot after helping to remove France by scoring a Wondergoal.
Spain will again compete against France in the semi -finals of the Nations League to defend the title that they won for the first time in 2023.
– “What a catastrophe ‘ –
Yamal’s teammate in Barcelona Pedri said that the teenager would bounce back from his penalty, a surprisingly tame effort from BRuggen.
“I told him it was a terrible punishment,” laughed Pedri, who scored Spain’s winner from the position after Donyell Malen missed the Netherlands.
“But no, you learn from these situations, he does not let the pressure influence it and you have to take a punishment to miss it.
“How calm he is always surprised us, it is as if pressure does not exist for him when they see how he dribbles so easily and how he plays.
“We have to take care of him and, above all, enjoy him, to have him.”
Yamal has four goals in 19 Spanish appearances, but plays at its peak with the self -confidence of a superstar.
Defense attorney Marc Cucurella also joked over Yamals penalty – with the willingness of the Spanish players to laugh at it, and they believe that the winger can take up the chin.
“I saw how he was taken in confidence and I thought he would certainly score a goal here,” said the left -back.
“Then I saw how he met it and said ‘What a catastrophe!'”
Apart from the punishments, Yamal, and the sporty Bilbao wing player Nico Williams on the opposite flank, Spain helps to an extremely exciting side that you can watch.
“We always want to attack a lot and attack a lot,” said Spain coach Luis de la Fuente.
“That’s why the fans enjoyed it so much, the game was out of control in a few moments, it is a spectacle to see them.”
The coach who previously said that Yamal was “touched by a wand”, admitted that the youngster was still growing.
“Lamine is disappointed (with the punishment), but he is happy,” added de la Fuente.
“He gave us what we needed from him, but he was growing and still maturing.”
RBS/BSP
