Spain survived a stunning France comeback to seal a 5-4 thriller in Stuttgart, booking their Nations League final spot against Portugal.
Lamine Yamal’s brace and a historic nine-goal clash stole the show in a game that will be remembered for years.
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Spain Dominates Early
Spain vs France began with Les Bleus pressing high, but Theo Hernandez’s 12th-minute strike off the crossbar proved a false alarm.
La Roja seized control midway through the first half, with Mikel Oyarzabal orchestrating two goals in three minutes.
Nico Williams fired into the roof of the net in the 22nd minute, before Mikel Merino doubled the lead with a precise finish inside the box.
France’s defense looked disjointed, and Dean Huijsen’s 44th-minute goal was disallowed for offside via VAR, adding to their first-half woes. Unai Simon made three crucial saves to keep Spain’s lead intact.
France’s Furious Fightback
The second half exploded as Spain extended their lead. Adrien Rabiot’s late tackle on Yamal conceded a penalty, which the 17-year-old coolly converted.
Moments later, Pedri capitalized on a Williams cutback to slot home and make it 4-0. Kylian Mbappé pulled one back from the spot after Pedro Porro’s foul, but Yamal restored the four-goal cushion with a low finish across goal, completing his brace.
France refused to concede defeat. Substitute Rayan Cherki marked his international debut with a stunning volley from Mbappé’s cutback, igniting a late surge.
Dani Vivian’s own goal and Randal Kolo Muani’s header in stoppage time narrowed the gap to 5-4, but Spain held on. Cherki’s two assists and a goal in 27 minutes earned him man-of-the-match buzz.
Key Moments
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First-Half Blitz: Oyarzabal’s vision unlocked France twice (Williams’ 22nd-minute finish; Merino’s 25th).
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Yamal’s Brilliance: The 17-year-old Barcelona star scored two goals—including a composed penalty—and became the youngest to net a brace in a Nations League semi-final.
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Cherki’s Debut Goal: France’s Rayan Cherki marked his first cap with a 79th-minute volley of rare quality.
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Late Drama: Vivian’s own goal (83rd) and Kolo Muani’s stoppage-time header (90+3) brought France within one but could not force extra time.
Statistical Nugget
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Under Didier Deschamps, France had only twice conceded two goals before the 30-minute mark; Spain was responsible for both, now including this 22nd and 25th-minute double.
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It’s the first time France have let in five goals since March 1969 (5-0 vs. England).
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Spain have scored four or more goals against France in an official competition for the first time since June 1949 (5-1 in a friendly).
What’s Next？
Spain now face Portugal in Sunday’s final in Munich, aiming to defend their 2023 title.
The Iberian derby will pit Yamal against Cristiano Ronaldo in a potential Ballon d’Or preview.
France, meanwhile, will play Germany in the third-place playoff, seeking redemption after their defensive collapse.
The thriller in Stuttgart will be remembered as a classic example of T20-style drama in international football.
Also Read: Spain edge France 5-4 in thriller: Yamal sensational
