The Roshn Saudi League will be represented in the final of the UEFA European Championship Germany 2024 after Spain booked their place in Sunday’s showpiece.
Al Nassr’s Aymeric Laporte and Al Qadsiah’s Nacho were key contributors in the three-time champions’ 2-1 victory in the semi-final against France in Munich on Tuesday night.
A France side starring Al Ittihad midfielder N’Golo Kante took an early lead at Munich Football Arena through Kolo Muani’s ninth-minute header, only for Spain to level on 21 minutes thanks to a spectacular strike from 16-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal.
Congratulations to Nacho and Laporte on reaching the #EURO2024 final with Spain! 🇪🇸👏 pic.twitter.com/oDbtzvcFei
— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) July 9, 2024
A deflected Dani Olmo goal four minutes later ultimately proved enough for Luis De la Fuente’s side to progress to the final in Berlin.
Forming an almost impenetrable pair at the centre of the defence, Laporte and Nacho played the entire game in Munich, with the former making his fifth straight appearance in the tournament.
Real Madrid great Nacho, a recent signing at RSL new boys Al Qadsiah, now has three matches in Germany under his belt.
Speaking after the semi-final win, Nacho told EURO2024.com: “We knew that there were genius players in the French team but we knew that we were as good as them. When we were losing and looking for a solution, up popped the youngest man in our team with a fantastic goal.
"If we're talking about genius then maybe Spain has one too. Lamine's goal, for a guy of 16, was incredible."
Nacho, who agreed to a two-year contract with 2023-24 First Division League champions Al Qadsiah, added: "We are happy but it's a controlled happiness. We have only achieved half of what we're here for – we haven't won anything yet.
"We're tired. It's time to rest, celebrate and then we'll see you in Berlin."
In the tournament's other semi-final, Al Ettifaq’s Georginio Wijnaldum was an unused substitute in the Netherlands' narrow, 2-1 defeat to England. To that point, Wijnaldum had featured in three matches for Ronald Koeman's side.
