Spain has reached a second consecutive UEFA Nations League final after a 5-3 victory over France in their semi-final collision in Stuttgart.
Match report
It was a ruthless performance from Spain. At 22 minutes they took the lead thanks to Nico Williams, with the Athletic Club wing player the ball past France -goalkeeper Mike Maignan hit after a good game by Lamine Yamal and Mikel Oyarzabal. And four minutes later, La Roja doubled their advantage thanks to Arsenal -midfielder Mikel Merino, who was also founded by the real Sociedad captain Oyarzabal.
It stayed so rest and minutes in the second half the game seemed to be brought to bed like a game. Lamine Yamal was polluted by Adrien Rabiot in the penalty area and the 17-year-old stepped up to score from 12 Yards. And two minutes later, Barcelona teammate Pedri added the fourth of the evening of Spain after he had exchanged passes with Nico.
France scored its own goal on the hour thanks to Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe, but shortly thereafter Spain recovered their lead from four goals and it was Lamine Yamal that doubled for La Roja. Barcelona's husband showed great power to keep the ball before he shot past Maignan for his second of the evening.
Les Bleus would make it for 79 minutes 5-2, with Rayan Cherki scored an excellent goal. And shortly thereafter they reduced the overdue payments when replacement Dani Vivian turned the ball into his own net.
It would be even more nervous for Spain as Randal Kolo Muani scored to make it 5-4 in the fourth minute of the stopping time, but in the end the side of Luis de la Fuente did enough to book their place in the final of this weekend, where they will be confronted with opposite Portugal. La Roja won the competition in 2023 and they hope to go back-to-back in 2025.
Match -Events
0 'The game is about to start!
1 'highlight of Spain vs France
4 'First chance of the game while Theo drives a 20 Yards shot
7 'Dembele plays the right to be in the room in the box in Mbappe, but his shot is stored
9 'Match event for Spain vs France
12 'Close! Theo's effort from the edge of the box touches the bar
18 'Desire Doue cuts in, but his effort is saved by Unai Simon
20 'Nico Williams has saved a shot by Mike Maignan Down Low
22 'goal! Oyarzabal helps Nico Williams to open the score! Spain 1-0 France
25 '2 goals in 3 minutes! Merino doubles the management of Oyarzabal! Spain 2-0 France
31 'Doue blast in a shot from the edge of the box that Simon is low to save
35 'Yamal picks up a yellow card while hacking desire from behind
37 'Dembele hits a shot that is stored with a low one handed over by Unai Simon
43 'Dembele is offside while he runs on Kone's inverted ball before he has a shot
45 'Huijsen hooks in a fine volley, but it is not allowed for offside
46 'Dembele cradles freely on the edge of the box, but his shot is saved again
46 'Lamine Yamal chooses Mikel Oyarzabal, whose shot is stored
49 'Match event for Spain vs France
54 'Criminal goal! Yamal steps up and casually scores the goal! Spain 3-0 France
55 'goal! Pedri beats the ball along Mike Maignan for a fourth! Spain 4-0 France
60 'Criminal objective! Mbappe withdraws one for visitors! Spain 4-1 France
65 'Doue tries to bend the ball in the far corner, but it just goes wide
67 'goal! Yamal takes it past Lenglet and gets his second goal! Spain 5-1 France
73 'Close! Dembele touches the pole from an almost impossible perspective
78 'Spain Gift Mbappe A chance to score, but it is not his best effort and Simon saves
80 'goal! Cherki hits a beautiful volley from outside the box! Spain 5-2 France
84 'Theo booked for the pollution of Yamal near the middle circle after his difficult footwork
85 'Own goal! Vivian turns the low cross of Gusto into his own net! Spain 5-3 France
89 'highlight from Spain vs France
92 'goal! Kolo Muani Powers in a header of the cross of Cherki! Spain 5-4 France
Line-ups
Spain XI: Le Normand, Merino, Unai Simón, Cucurella, Oyarzabal, Martín Zubimendi, Porri, Pedri, Nico Williams, Dean Huijsen, Yamal, Yamal
Subs: Isco, Morata, Grimaldo, Álex Remiro, David Raya, Fabian Ruiz, Olmo, Dani Vivian, Álex Baena, óscar Mingueza, Yeremy, Gavi, Fermín López, Samu Aghehowa, Cubarsi
France XI: Maignan, Lenglet, Rabiot, Dembele, Theo, Mbappe, Konate, Kalulu, Manu Koné, Olise, Doue
Subs: Digne, Brice Samba, Lucas, Thuram, Pavard, Guendouzi, Tchouameni, Muani, Loïc Badé, Cherki, Lucas Chevalier, Gusto, Barola, Zaire-Emery-Emery