Euro 2024: Rio Ferdinand hails 'special' Lamine Yamal as Spain reach Euro 2024 final - 'How do you stop him?'
Updated 10/07/2024 at 11:40 GMT+1
Lamine Yamal is being branded "special" and a "talent" following another sublime showing. The 16-year-old lit up Spain's Euro 2024 semi-final against France by netting a sublime goal that makes him the youngest player to net at a European Championships. La Roja will now face either England or the Netherlands in the final, and Yamal's performance left Rio Ferdinand asking "how do you stop him?"
Yamal and Spain power into Euro 2024 final following a 2-1 victory over France
Video credit: SNTV
Rio Ferdinand believes Spain's newest star, Lamine Yamal, is almost unstoppable.
The 16-year-old has already achieved more in his young career than many professional footballers can dream of.
He made his Barcelona debut last season, and was fast-tracked into the international squad, netting on his debut in September 2023 in a 7-1 victory over Georgia.
Fast forward 10 months, and he has just become the youngest player to score at a European Championships after helping La Roja to a 2-1 victory over France in their Euro 2024 semi-final.
But it was more than just his goal that got tongues wagging, with Ferdinand left waxing lyrical over Yamal's overall performance.
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"It's the calmness with which he plays," he told BBC Sport. "He plays like somebody who's been playing for a long time. He makes quick decisions and he just picks the right pass at the right moment.
"The simplicity with which he plays, it's so difficult to do. We know what it's like when you're a young player that comes into any team, let alone the national team. You're thinking about proving to people why you're there, so you over do it.
"Nine times out of 10, young players, you see them at some point in the game where they overcook it or overpass it or he's tried to do too much with it.
"We've not said that once about this kid. Invariably, he makes the right decision nine and a half times out of 10. At 16.
"The question is, how do you stop him? That's the conundrum now for his opponents. You go close and get tight, he can jink. If you stand off him, he can pass.
"Normally a winger, he's really quick and he can run at you, but he doesn't have the knowledge to pass. He can."
Yamal's stunning strike, his third goal for his country, came after Randal Kolo Muani had given France an eighth minute lead.
Spain equalised through their young starlet shortly afterwards, before Dani Olmo's 25th minute effort proved enough to edge to a 2-1 victory.
It means they remain on course for a record fourth European Championship title, and will face either the Netherlands or England in Sunday's final.
And as much as it was a team effort to see off Les Bleus, it was Yamal who stole the show.
"It's a wonderful finish and we'll talk about it for years to come," Ferdinand continued.
Former Manchester City and England defender Micah Richards added: "Sixteen years of age and it's the way he's just so calm in this position.
"To dig it out, we know he's got a wonderful left foot, but to do it with so many players around him as well, and have that composure and that confidence to take it on, it shows you what a special player he is."
Former England striker Alan Shearer added: "It's so impressive, the way he actually moves [Adrien] Rabiot to the right, for him to then come back in on his left, which opens it up for him.
"You can just see him wanting to guide it into the corner. It's just a magnificent finish.
"Where he plays, he's obviously given the freedom to go inside and do his stuff inside. He's not sticking to that right and always trying to cut it on his left.
"He's actually got the freedom to go in the middle of the park. And when he gets in the middle of the park, his passing is that good.
"The pace that he actually puts on his passing makes it easier for his team-mates to handle. What a talent."
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