Spain secured a place in the Nations League final after a breathtaking 5-4 victory over France in Stuttgart, with 17-year-old Lamine Yamal scoring twice. The Barcelona teenager, considered a potential Ballon d’Or winner this year, played a key role in building a dominant lead for his team.
Goals from Nico Williams and Mikel Merino gave Spain a 2-0 advantage before Yamal was brought down by Adrien Rabiot inside the area. The young forward stepped up and calmly converted the penalty, sending Mike Maignan the wrong way. Shortly after, Pedri added a fourth, finishing off a pass from Williams to leave France stunned.
Although Kylian Mbappe pulled one back for France from the penalty spot following a foul by Pedro Porro, Yamal struck again with a precise low effort, making it 5-1. At that stage, the game looked all but settled.
Late French rally falls just short
France refused to go down quietly, sparking a remarkable late resurgence. Rayan Cherki, making his debut, made an immediate impact by collecting a pass from Mbappe, lifting the ball into the air, and volleying into the net from outside the box to reduce the deficit to 5-2.
Defender Dani Vivian then inadvertently scored an own goal with six minutes to play, and in stoppage time, Randal Kolo Muani headed home a Cherki cross to bring France within one. Despite the furious push, Spain held on to claim a spot in the final.
Final awaits in Munich
With this thrilling win, Spain will meet Portugal in the final on Sunday in Munich. France, meanwhile, will play Germany in the third-place play-off in Stuttgart.
The match, featuring the two most recent Nations League winners, turned into a classic. France had started brightly, with Theo Hernandez striking the bar and Unai Simon making several crucial saves, including efforts from Doue and Dembele.
Williams opened the scoring with a powerful shot into the roof of the net, followed quickly by Merino’s unmarked finish to double the advantage. At halftime, a dramatic finish seemed unlikely, but the second half delivered seven goals and one of the most memorable games in the tournament’s history.
