SPAIN’S right hand side has a startling blend of youth and experience for their Euro 2024 semi-final against France tonight.
Right-back Jesus Navas and right winger Lamine Yamal are occupying the right flank for the Spaniards this evening, despite a whopping 22-year age gap.
Navas, 38, will earn his 56th cap for the Spanish national team, while Yamal, 16, is making his 13th appearance – and has set a record after scoring a sensational equaliser to make it 1-1.
And the vast difference in age and experience has left fans with their jaws on the floor.
Not least because there is 22 years between the pair, but also because supporters have learnt that Navas is OLDER than Yamal’s dad.
It’s understood that the Barcelona wonderkid’s father is 35 years old, making him three years the junior of Navas.
The unbelievable stat blew the minds of fans at home, with many taking to social media to react.
One wrote: “My mom told me that Lamine’s dad is 35 and I nearly fell out of my chair.”
While another added: “It’s crazy how Navas still plays for the Spanish national team while most of his 2010 World Cup team-mates are retired now.”
A third joked that Yamal would have to refer to his team-mate as “Mr Navas” given the age gap.
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And a fourth commented: “Wow. He’s more than double his age.”
The gap between the pair is even more staggering when you consider that Yamal was just two years old when Navas made his Spain debut in 2009.
And the youngster was only three when Navas was part of Vincente del Bosque’s World Cup-winning side in 2010.
Yamal’s age certainly isn’t a barrier for him though with the highly-rated teenager already strutting his stuff on the big stage this summer.
The La Masia graduate has registered three assists already and will earn himself the title of the youngest ever player to score in a European Championship if he nets this evening.
He has already set the record as the youngest ever player to feature in the Euros this tournament.
And he’s done it while balancing his schoolwork at the same time.
Before the tournament got underway, Yamal admitted that he had to bring his homework to Germany with him as he is still finishing high school.
He said: “I have classes on the web and I’m doing well, I hope the teacher doesn’t fail me.”
Yamal isn’t the only one setting records either, with Navas about to set a record for himself tonight.
The former Manchester City man will become the oldest player to ever play in the semi-final of a European Championship.
