Stuttgart witnessed a night of unforgettable football as Spain edged out France in a thrilling 5-4 victory in the UEFA Nations League semi-final. The match, a rollercoaster of emotions, saw Spain surge to a commanding lead before weathering a late French storm to secure their place in the final against Portugal.
Spain started strongly, with Nico Williams opening the scoring in the 22nd minute. A low cross from Lamine Yamal caused chaos in the French defense, eventually finding its way to Williams, who emphatically smashed the ball into the roof of the net. Just three minutes later, Mikel Merino doubled Spain's advantage, calmly slotting past Mike Maignan after being played through on goal by Mikel Oyarzabal. France, however, were not without their chances in the first half, with Unai Simon, the Spanish goalkeeper, forced into making smart saves from Désiré Doué and Ousmane Dembélé to preserve Spain's two-goal lead.
The second half began with Spain seemingly putting the game beyond France's reach. Lamine Yamal converted a penalty in the 53rd minute after Adrien Rabiot brought him down. Moments later, Pedri increased the lead to 4-0, with a delightful finish after a one-two with Williams. Just when it appeared the game was over, France began an unlikely comeback. Kylian Mbappé pulled one back from the penalty spot in the 59th minute after being fouled by Pedro Porro. However, any hopes of a comeback were seemingly dashed when Yamal grabbed his second goal of the night, expertly finding the bottom corner from Porro's knockdown to make it 5-1.
France, however, refused to surrender. Rayan Cherki, making his debut, scored a stunning goal from outside the box to reduce the deficit to 5-2. A Dani Vivian own goal further closed the gap, and Randal Kolo Muani's header in added time made it 5-4, setting up a tense finale. Despite the late pressure, Spain held on to secure the victory and a place in the Nations League final.
Lamine Yamal's performance was a major talking point. The young Spaniard scored twice and proved to be a constant threat to the French defense. Nico Williams also shone, scoring the opening goal and contributing to Spain's attacking prowess. For France, despite the defeat, Kylian Mbappé's goal and Rayan Cherki's stunning strike were among the positives. However, defensive errors ultimately cost them the match.
Spain will now face Portugal in the Nations League final, while France will play Germany in the third-place play-off. This nine-goal thriller will be remembered as a classic encounter between two of Europe's footballing giants, showcasing the excitement and unpredictability of international football. Spain's victory puts them one step closer to defending their Nations League title.
