Spain advances to the final following a thrilling 5-4 victory over France.
Let's Rewrite This:
The bloody Spain squad snatched a narrow victory against France in the semi-final of the Nations League, with a thrilling 5:4 win (2:0). With this triumph, Luis de la Fuente's squad has secured their spot in the final on Sunday. Facing them will be Portugal, which earlier ousted Germany 2:1.
Despite mounting a valiant comeback in the second half, France came up short. Spain had a comfortable 5:1 lead in the 67th minute, but late goals from the French were insufficient in the end.
Reflecting on the intense match, 17-year-old star Lamine Yamal of Spain, who netted two goals, shared his thoughts, "It was a cracking game. It got a bit tense towards the end, but we did bloody well. France are a top-notch team. They test your nerves, that's normal. But we're over the moon about the win," added the double goalscorer on RTVE.
Fans gave the Spanish squad a chilly welcome
The initial enthusiasm for the Spanish squad in Stuttgart quickly turned frosty for defender Marc Cucurella. His questionable handball during the European Football Championship's quarter-finals caused quite a stir. fans relentlessly jeered Cucurella every time he touched the ball.
Both France and Spain managed to draw their quarter-finals via penalties. In Stuttgart, a fast-paced, offensive display from both teams aimed for a quick route to each other's goal, with quick passes the order of the day. Striker Nico Williams, who is also attracting interest from FC Bayern Munich, opened the scoring for Spain in the 22nd minute to make it 1:0.
Three minutes later, Mikel Merino stretched Spain's lead with an accurate shot (25) for a 2:0 advantage. Defender Dean Huijsen almost added a third goal before half-time, but his side-footed attempt landed just offside.
Spain upped their game
After the break, Spain demonstrated their mettle, playing at a high tempo. A foul by Adrien Rabiot earned Spain a penalty, for which the French midfielder also drew a yellow card. The fouled Lamine Yamal converted the penalty in the 54th minute, pushing the score further ahead at 3:0.
A lapse in concentration by de la Fuente's team following the successful penalty allowed Pedri to score into the far corner just two minutes later. Spain led 4:0 in the 55th minute.
Spanish defender Pedro Porro clumsily tangled with Kylian Mbappé, resulting in another penalty for France. The French skipper converted, narrowing the gap to 4:1 in the 59th minute. Inspired by their first goal, France seemed to find new life.
The final whistle sealed Spain's fate
A 5:1 for Spain courtesy of Yamal (67) was followed by more goals from France. Rayan Cherki shrunk the gap between the teams to 3:1 for Spain in the 79th minute. A Spanish own goal by Daniel Vivian (84) brought France back within striking distance.
France seemed to be on the verge of a major comeback soon. Cherki pulled off a stunning equalizer in the fourth minute of added time, a sensational finish that had Spain sweating till the final whistle. However, the whistle confirmed Spain's passage to the Nations League final.
Germany and France will be battling it out for the third-place trophy. Bastian Schweinsteiger, ARD commentator on the game, lauded the exciting encounter, "The spectacle was a joy for the fans. Both teams provided a terrific offensive showcase with the French squad never giving up, making it a truly beautiful football evening, thank you to both sides."
Germany's match against the French national squad will be decided in the battle for third place, which will be held the same day. The match will once again take place at the VfB Stuttgart stadium. With the French team's incredible comeback showing, a challenge awaits the German team.
Sports enthusiasts eagerly await the upcoming sports-analysis discussions about the thrilling Nations League match between Spain and France. Football aficionados, in particular, will be fascinated by the performance of young star Lamine Yamal, who scored two crucial goals in the game. Meanwhile, the sports world has its eyes on the intense battle between Germany and France for the third-place trophy in the ongoing competition.
