When Randal Kolo Muani headed in the opener in the first semifinal, we all wondered if France’s show was almost inevitably about to hit the road right at the crucial time.
The pretournament favourites staggered to the last four but had a squad, and a recent track record, to offer hope to coach Didier Deschamps that the challenge would eventually come good.
Lamine Yamal had other ideas.
The 16-year-old became the youngest goalscorer at a European Championships when he curled in an equaliser after 21 minutes. The effort itself was special – and will likely win the goal of the tournament – but the record is one that is unlikely to be broken.
Dani Olmo netted just four minutes later what would be the winner in the 2-1 win, but the French, and the world, were still coming to terms with Yamal’s wonder strike.
The final and perhaps the Euro 2024 title beckons for the favourites, Spain, but stardom seems assured for a boy from Barcelona living a “dream”.