Tottenham's Mathys Tel delivered the decisive moment as France Under-21s qualified for the semi-finals of the European Championships on Sunday night.
Tel is one of three Spurs starlets competing at the tournament, with Wilson Odobert also representing France and Archie Gray performing for the Three Lions. England also booked their place in the last four over the weekend, but the holders are on the opposite side of the draw to Tel and Odobert's France.
The two teams could meet in the final, however.
Tel has been in and out of the starting XI at the tournament, with Villarreal's Thierno Barry also in the French squad, but he was given the nod up top for Sunday's quarter-final and reminded us all of what a special player he could evolve into.
Mathys Tel's destructive quality on display for France U21s
🇫🇷 Mathys Tel envoie la France en demies😍⚽ #EUROU21 | #DENFRA | @equipedefrance pic.twitter.com/YNtJwBIka5
— L'UEFA en français (@UEFAcom_fr) June 22, 2025
France were made to work hard against Denmark, who took an early second half lead after Djaoui Cisse cancelled out Clement Bischoff's opener. However, two goals in as many minutes shifted the tie completely and it was Tel who completed their comeback.
The Tottenham man, who's joined the club permanently off the back of his six-month loan, received possession in his favoured inside left position before ominously waltzing into the box while Danish right-back Anton Gaaei stood off.
The Ajax defender afforded Tel enough room to work the requisite angle for a shot, but the forward still had plenty to do. His effort from a relatively acute angle was pinpoint and too good for Andreas Jungdal between the posts.
It was the sort of goal we've seen Tel score before on several occasions, albeit not in N17, with minimal effort required to get the shot off. There's scope for him to blossom into a mightily efficient finisher given his attributes, and Thomas Frank has already spoken of his excitement about working with the 20-year-old.
"I think he’s a very talented player who can play across the front four positions," the new manager said (via The Athletic)." He’s a goalscorer, that we can develop even further, and be even more consistent in his all-round game and also more consistent to land in the right positions in the box. I’m looking forward to it.”
Tel scored three times in 20 appearances last season but was performing roles which weren't designed to maximise his talent. The Frenchman was either tasked with hugging the touchline or functioning as a Dominic Solanke-like target man. His utopia is somewhere in between, and it'll be Frank's job to ensure the mightily gifted Frenchman is able to fulfill his distinct promise in north London.