It was a frenetic start in Munich and Spain should have taken the lead inside five minutes.

Yamal, playing on the right-hand side, cut back onto his left foot and whipped a delightful cross into the box, something that has become a feature of the youngster’s tournament.

His delivery was inch-perfect onto the head of Fabián Ruiz, but the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder put his effort over the crossbar when totally unmarked at the far post.

It was a miss that Ruiz would rue almost immediately as three minutes later, France was in the lead.

Mbappé, who was finally played without a mask, put a cross towards the far post and Kolo Muani brilliantly peeled off the back of defender Aymeric Laporte to make space and head the ball past a rooted Unai Simón.

Spain looked rattled and was struggling to contain France’s counterattacks. The 38-year-old Jesus Navas, deputising for the suspended Dani Carvajal at right back, in particular was having a torrid time up against Mbappé.

But then the game changed in the blink of an eye, thanks to teenage sensation Yamal.

Out of nowhere, the schoolboy, who promised his teachers ahead of the tournament that he would keep up with his homework in Germany, cut back onto his left foot 25 yards from goal and bent a stunning effort off the post and in.

France goalkeeper Mike Maignan has enjoyed an impressive tournament for Les Bleus but had no chance of saving Yamal’s arcing shot.

It’s difficult to comprehend how someone so young could possess the confidence and self-belief to not only think about taking that shot, but execute it to perfection on the biggest stage.

That goal breathed new life into Spain and less than five minutes later, De la Fuente’s side was ahead.

After Navas’ cross into the box was blocked, Olmo took two sublime touches to bring the ball under control and away from Aurélien Tchouaméni, before drilling a deflected effort past a helpless Maignan.

Spain had responded magnificently to the early pressure France applied. Now it was up to France coach Didier Deschamps to find a way for his team to fight back.

Just after the hour mark, Deschamps rolled the dice. Off came Adrien Rabiot, N’Golo Kanté and goal scorer Kolo Muani, who were replaced by Bradley Barcola, Eduardo Camavinga and the experienced Antoine Griezmann.

Clear cut chances were few and far between, however, as France struggled to break down a resolute Spanish defence.

After a promising first half, Mbappé was particularly disappointing in the second period. In the final few minutes, a wayward shot that ended up high in the stands when he was well placed inside the box summed up an underwhelming evening for the new Real Madrid star.