History-maker Lamine Yamal embodies this new-look Spain

Just a week before the start of Euro 2024, Lamine Yamal was asked what he would be doing if he wasn’t a footballer.

“I would like to be a streamer,” replied the Spain winger without hesitation, giving exactly the kind of answer you would expect from a 16-year-old.

Instead, he is having to make do with becoming the youngest player in European Championship history, providing an assist on his major tournament debut and being the real difference-maker against one of the best international sides of the past decade.

Yamal played in Saturday’s group-stage opener in Berlin with the bravery and personality that has helped make him the face of a refreshed Spain.

Luis de la Fuente’s side started their tournament with a convincing 3-0 win over Croatia, World Cup runners-up in 2018 and semi-finalists in Qatar 18 months ago, thanks chiefly to a clinical first half when Alvaro Morata and Fabian Ruiz both scored in a three-minute window either side of the half-hour mark.

Yamal was involved in the build-up to the latter, and then came the icing on the cake of his display.

In the final seconds of the half, he cut in from the right flank and quickly glanced up towards the Croatia penalty area. That momentary look was enough time for him to assess the positions and movements of his various team-mates. With the execution of a veteran, Yamal gently swept a cross into the path of Dani Carvajal, who poked it into the net; 3-0, game over.

Yamal played 86 minutes last night, touched the ball six times in the opposition box, had three shots, crossed the ball three times and created three goalscoring opportunities. He completed three take-ons, as well as registering two ball recoveries.

It’s now seven goal involvements — two goals and five assists — in eight appearances for Spain. This most recent one made him the youngest player to provide an assist at a European Championship.

He and Spain were able to do all this despite surprisingly losing the battle for possession of the ball. With their 53 per cent possession, Croatia ended a run of 136 competitive games in which Spain had more of the ball than their opponents.

As insignificant as some stats can ultimately be, this one represented a well-sought development by De la Fuente’s team.

“We will play with the style that brings us a win,” midfielder Rodri said before yesterday’s game. “I am not a guardian of any philosophy. You need to adapt and change against any team.”

De la Fuente had more to say on this post-match: “We are turning Spain into a team that can hurt the opponents in many different ways. We can be effective when we have possession of the ball, but if we are given the chance we are going to run and counter-attack as well.”

Yamal battles with Croatia’s Josko Gvardiol (Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images)

There is nobody who embodies Spain’s mentality switch better than Yamal.

Playing with two out-and-out wingers makes a huge difference to this team. They force the opposition to defend the width of the pitch, leaving more free space in central areas, and as long as Yamal and fellow wide man Nico Williams keep their tactical discipline and track back when required, Spain are well placed to cut any side open on the break.

And yet this team are far from the finished product. There are still doubts over how consistent they can be in both boxes, with looming concerns about the starting centre-back partnership and an eternal debate over Morata and what Spain could be with a better striker. But the spark brought by Yamal alone makes them worth watching.

The Barcelona winger burst into the national team last September, initially as a precautionary measure by the Spanish FA to prevent him representing Morocco, for whom he was also eligible. But his starting role has not been gifted to him — if anything he has been held back at times.

At club level, Barcelona coach Xavi did not want to rush him into action too often in the early part of the season, and was sensible in terms of load management: Yamal only started seven La Liga matches before the turn of the year.

As the season advanced, though, his talent was impossible to contain and left Xavi with no other option: he started 15 of the 18 league games he played in from January 21 on, and quickly became Barcelona’s go-to man in attack.

With Spain, there have been a few bumps on his road to the senior team.

One blot on his copybook came just last year, when he was sent home from the under-17s team after committing an unspecified act of indiscipline alongside two team-mates.

That news came as a surprise to Jordi Font, who had coached Yamal with Barcelona’s under-10s during the 2016-17 season.

“I don’t see Lamine as a conflictive guy,” Font told The Athletic. “Apart from being his manager, I used to live close to his dad’s home and I usually gave him a ride in my car heading to our games, so I got to know him pretty well.

“I don’t say it to protect him. We’ve had players at La Masia (Barca’s academy), who were messing around all day. But Lamine is not one of them.”

The punishment was extended by Barcelona, who left him out of several under-19s matches. Yamal accepted the consequences and apologised for his indiscretion. The furore quickly died down and his impact with Barcelona increased — to the point that his call-up to the senior Spain team seemed inevitable.

Barcelona and the Spanish FA were in constant contact throughout last season to make sure the 16-year-old (he turns 17 next month, the day before this tournament’s final back here in Berlin) was not given excessive game time.

With Yamal also eligible for the Olympic Games this summer (men’s Olympic football is largely an under-23s event with each nation also allowed a few over-age players), there have been fears he may be run into the ground.

But his club and national team are understood to have reached a gentlemen’s agreement that Yamal won’t be asked to participate in two tournaments in the same summer.

“I understand it would not be logical for me to go to both competitions, because since I’ve started playing with the first team, everyone has tried not to give me too many minutes,” Yamal said earlier this season.

His words came as a relief to Barcelona fans, but also showed incredible maturity and wisdom from a 16-year-old.

Whatever happens this summer, we can expect to be seeing plenty more from Yamal in years to come.

(Top photo: Alex Pantling/UEFA via Getty Images)