Spectacle in Nations League: Spain overwhelms France and reaches final

With power, finesse and the exceptional talent of Lamine Yamal : European champions Spain stormed into the final of the Nations League with a spectacular 5:4 (2:0) win against France - but even had to tremble briefly at the very end.

Another victory against Portugal would give coach Luis de la Fuente's team the chance to defend their title in Munich on Sunday (9 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the Nations League and on DAZN).

A few hours earlier (3 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the Nations League and on DAZN ), France will face the German national team, which, after its disappointing semi-final exit in the match for third place in Stuttgart, is aiming for at least a conciliatory end to the home event.

Nico Williams (22nd minute) and Mikel Merino (25th) scored early for the Spaniards in a fast-paced and highly entertaining match. After the break, brilliant two-goal scorer Yamal (54th, penalty/67th) and Pedri (55th) added more goals in front of a sold-out Stuttgart Arena.

Kylian Mbappé also scored for France, scoring from the penalty spot (59th minute), and substitute Rayan Cherki (79th minute). An own goal by Spain's Daniel Vivian (84th minute) and a late goal by Randal Kolo Muani (90th minute +3) rounded off the memorable nine-goal spectacle, which almost turned the game around in the end.

Spain's full-back Marc Cucurella, who was in the spotlight for an unpunished handball in Germany's European Championship quarter-final exit just over a year ago, was loudly booed by some of the spectators.

Spain initially had more possession, while France had the better chances. However, the highly praised attack of the Équipe Tricolore, featuring Mbappé, former Dortmund player Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué, and Michael Olise of German record champions FC Bayern Munich, lacked precision at times, luck at times—and, overall, efficiency for a long time.

Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón was on hand several times, but even the captain between the Iberians' posts could have done nothing to stop a shot by Théo Hernández that hit the crossbar (12').

And what about Spain's attack around Yamal? The 17-year-old from FC Barcelona showed off his great technical ability on several occasions. However, other heroes of the 2024 European Championship scored at least the first goals.

Mikel Oyarzabal, the winning goal in the 2-1 final victory against England, provided the assists for Spain's first two goals. First, he set up Williams, who fired the ball into the roof of the net. Then he beautifully chipped the ball into the path of Merino, who doubled the lead with a well-placed low shot.

Merino and Stuttgart ? There was something there. The former Dortmund player had already scored in the victory against Germany in last year's European Championship thriller – the deciding goal in extra time. Just like then, he celebrated this time with a little dance around the corner flag. And his father, Ángel, had already shown exactly the same celebration in Stuttgart – after a goal 34 years ago.

After the break, things got tough for the French. First, Yamal converted a penalty conceded by Adrien Rabiot, then Pedri scored with a superb lob after a fine move to make it 4-0. These were goals reminiscent of the illustrious era of the crowned generation led by Xavi Hernández and Andrés Iniesta.

Mbappé also scored from the penalty spot after a foul by Pedro Porro. Shortly afterward, the team of Didier Deschamps, who is leaving after the 2026 World Cup, suffered another blow. Yamal scored with his toe, scoring his second goal.

Cherki rewarded France's morale with another goal. After an own goal by substitute Vivian, the game even became more tense. Kolo Muani reduced the deficit to 4:5 in stoppage time, but it was not enough to equalize. In the end, the Spaniards celebrated once again.