Spain in the Nations League final: spectacular win against France!

Spain in the Nations League final: spectacular win against France!

In the semi-finals of the UEFA Nations League, Spain won a thrilling game against France 5:4 (2:0) and thus secured a place in the final against Portugal. The game took place on June 5, 2025 in Stuttgart, where the Spaniards performed in front of an impressive backdrop. Coach Luis Enrique's team surprised many with a strong first half, in which Nico Williams (22nd minute) and Mikel Merino (25th minute) gave them an early 2-0 lead. Dean Huijsen, who was making his international debut, then scored in the 43rd minute, but his goal was disallowed due to an offside decision. 

Lamine Yamal, just 17 years old, eventually became player of the game. Not only did he score a penalty in the 54th minute after Adrien Rabiot fouled him in the penalty area, but he made it 5-1 in the 67th minute, capitalizing on an assist from Pedro Porro. Spain had impressive control of the game up to this point, even leading 4-0 at one point, before the French team showed a strong reaction.

France's attempts to turn the game around

Didier Deschamps' team managed to make the game exciting again. Kylian Mbappé converted a penalty to make it 1-4 in the 59th minute after Pedro Porro fouled Mbappé. Rayan Cherki and Randal Kolo Muani contributed to the final score of 5-4 in the final minutes after Daniel Vivian scored an own goal. Unai Simón, the Spanish goalkeeper, played a crucial role in the first half, thwarting several great chances, including from Mbappé.

Overall, the game was an exciting back and forth that captivated the spectators. Spain has remained unbeaten in 19 international matches and without defeat in 24 competitive matches. The team suffered its last competitive defeat in March 2023 and is in the UEFA Nations League final for the third time in a row.

A look at the UEFA Nations League

The UEFA Nations League, which has consisted of 55 UEFA member associations since it was first held in the 2018/19 season, was created to reduce the importance of friendlies and promote competitiveness between national teams. The competition takes place every two years and includes various phases such as the group stage, the Final Four and play-offs. The Reyes league systems A, B, C and D are based on the UEFA coefficients, with the four group winners of League A playing in the final round for the title. Spain could win their first title in Nations League history with a win in the final against Portugal. The importance of this league is also highlighted by its role in qualifying for the UEFA European Championship and the FIFA World Cup.

The final against Portugal promises to be exciting after Portugal defeated Germany 2-1 in the other semi-final. The development of the Spanish national team in recent years shows continuous growth and strong team performance, which is gaining additional momentum through the performances of young talents such as Lamine Yamal. Vienna.at reports that Spain thrilled the fans with a committed performance and is taking another step towards defending their title. Also Newsday emphasizes that Yamal contributed significantly to this success with his two goals.

With regard to the future of the Nations League, it remains to be seen how this exciting competition will develop. The focus will not only be on the final against Portugal, but also on the structural changes and the increasingly important role of this league in the international football context, such as Wikipedia can be read.