Spain has reached the European Championship final following a 2-1 victory over France, with 16-year-old Lamine Yamal becoming the youngest scorer at a men’s major tournament.

France took an early lead in Munich when Randal Kolo Muani headed in a cross from Kylian Mbappé, who played without a mask, before Yamal’s moment of brilliance in the 21st minute.

Dani Olmo scored what was to prove the winner four minutes later.

Spain, who is chasing a record fourth European Championship title, will play England or the Netherlands in the final in Berlin on Monday, Australian time.

England and the Netherlands play each other in Dortmund on Thursday, Australian time.

There was surprise in Munich when Mbappé took to the field without the mask he has been wearing since getting his nose broken in France’s opening group match.

Mbappé had been complaining the mask was impeding him, and ditching it appeared to have an immediate effect as he set up the opening goal in the ninth minute with a tantalising cross to the back post that was headed in by Kolo Muani.

That was the first goal France had scored at Euro 2024 that was not a penalty or an own-goal. Fortunately for Les Bleus they had also been exceptional at the back during the tournament, allowing just one goal, a retaken penalty by Poland’s Robert Lewandowski in the group stage.

But there was no stopping Yamal’s stunning equaliser in the 21st minute as he became the youngest player ever to score at a men’s European Championship — or World Cup — when he curled the ball past Mike Maignan and in off the left post from long range.

The effort helped Yamal earn the player-of-the-match award.

Spain turned the match around completely four minutes later when Olmo’s goal-bound shot was turned into the net by France defender Jules Koundé.

It was originally adjudged by UEFA to have been an own-goal but was later awarded to Olmo.

France dominated possession in the second half but could not make it count.

Théo Hernández should have done better when he blazed a good chance over the bar late on, and Mbappé did similar with four minutes remaining.

Spain could have been further ahead between those chances as another powerful strike from Yamal flew narrowly over the crossbar.

AP