Spain beat France 5:4 in Stuttgart to reach the Nations League final. Portugal await in Munich on Sunday. France will face Germany in the match for third place.
In the second semi-final of the Final Four in Stuttgart, the Spaniards did the groundwork for victory with two doubles. Nico Williams and Mikel Merino scored midway through the first half to take a 2:0 lead. After the break, they responded to the French team's attempt to catch up with goals from Lamine Yamal via a penalty (54') and Pedri after a wonderful combination (55'). After Lamine Yamal's second goal made it 5:1 at the latest, the decision seemed to have been made, but the French came close again with a final spurt.
France were very fragile in defense, probably also due to many absences. With William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano and Jules Koundé, three quarters of the usual defensive line were missing. Almost every Spanish advance caused confusion around goalkeeper Mike Maignan. Individual errors contributed to the insecurity, which Spain consistently exploited. The last time France's national team conceded five goals was in a test match against England in 1969.
It was bitter for France's star ensemble with Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué and Michael Olise that they had chances to score. The attacking players repeatedly failed to beat Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon, twice hitting the edge of the goal. It was not until the 59th minute that Kylian Mbappé scored the first French goal with a penalty to make it 1:4.
And in the final quarter of an hour, France came even closer to the Spaniards. Led by substitute debutant Rayan Cherki, the French came as close as 4:5. Cherki with a dream goal (79'), Dani Vivian with an own goal and Randal Kolo Muani with a header (84') provided the three late French goals for the nine-goal spectacle.
France will play for 3rd place in Stuttgart on Sunday, while Spain will be aiming for their second Nations League title against Portugal in Munich.
Telegram
Stuttgart. - Ref Oliver (ENG). - Goals: 22. Williams 1:0. 25. Merino 2:0. 54. Yamal (penalty) 3:0. 55. Pedri 4:0. 59. Mbappé (penalty) 4:1.67. Yamal 5:1. 79. Cherki 5:2. 84. Vivian (own goal) 5:3. 93. Kolo Muani 5:4.
Spain: Simon; Porro, Le Normand (77. Vivian), Huijsen, Cucurella; Merino (91. Gavi), Zubimendi, Pedri (64. Ruiz); Yamal, Oyarzabal (77. Samu), Williams (64. Olmo).
France: Maignan; Kalulu (63. Gusto), Konaté, Lenglet (72. Luca Hernandez), Théo Hernandez, Koné, Rabiot; Dembélé (76. Kolo Muani), Olise (63. Cherki), Doué (63. Barcola); Mbappé.
Comments: Cautions: 33rd Yamal. 82nd Théo Hernandez. 94th Kolo Muani. 96th Gavi.
The ticker for the review
Spain
France
- Nico Williams - 1:0 (22.)
- Mikel Merino - 2:0 (25.)
- Lamine Yamal - 3:0 (54.)
- Pedri - 4:0 (55.)
- Lamine Yamal - 5:1 (67.)
- (59.) 4:1 - Kylian Mbappé
- (79.) 5:2 - Rayan Cherki
- (84.) 5:3 - Dani Vivian
- (90.+3.) 5:4 - Randal Kolo Muani
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Liveticker
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Liveticker closed
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0.
See you next time!
What an evening of football that was! Thank you very much for reading along and have a nice weekend. See you next time!
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90.+6.
End of the match
Spain win this spectacle against France 5:4 and will play Portugal for the title in Munich on Sunday. France will play Germany for third place.
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90.+3.
Toooooooooor for France, 5:4 by Randal Kolo Muani
No way! Cherki crosses from the right to the middle, Randal Kolo Muani rises highest and heads into the left corner. Will France really equalize here?
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87.
Mbappé launches a quick counter-attack via Barcola. The PSG man runs into the penalty area on the left and plays the ball into the back of the defense. Kolo Muani comes rushing in and shoots just over the bar past Unai Simon.
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84.
Toooooooooor for France, 5:3 through Dani Vivian (own goal)
What's going on here? Gusto forges forward on the right wing and crosses to the center. Dani Vivian tries to clear but hits the ball into his own net. What else is there here?
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79.
Toooooooooooor for France, 5:2 through Rayan Cherki
What a dream goal! Rayan Cherki is played in at the edge of the penalty area. He takes the ball on the right, volleys left-footed and scores wonderfully into the left corner. What a goal!
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76.
Mbappé has not given up yet. He weaves his way through the back line and finishes under pressure. Unai Simon dives into the right corner and deflects into the far corner. The subsequent French corner kick is harmless.
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72.
Dembélé hits the post
France virtually play a power play around their opponents' penalty area, but are barely able to break down the Spanish bulwark. Dembélé latches on to a ball that is too long and flicks it to the right-hand post. Unai Simon storms out of his box, but is too late.
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69.
Unbelievable what the 17-year-old can still conjure up on the pitch after such a long season. Will this performance put him in the running for the Ballon d'Or?
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67.
Toooooooooor for 5:1, by Lamine Yamal
Double! Pedro Porro is sent on his way down the right-hand side. Lamine Yamal runs into the center, beats Lenglet and tucks the ball into the left corner.
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61.
Next big chance for France
Doué has been somewhat subdued in this second half. When Barcola is already on the sidelines to replace him, he makes his presence felt once again. He flicks the ball from the left towards the far post and just misses.
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59.
Toooooooooor for France, 4:1 through Kylian Mbappé
The fouled player takes the ball himself and scores into the left corner.
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58.
Penalty for France
Pedro Porro pulls down Mbappé in the penalty area and Oliver again points to the spot!
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55.
Toooooooooor for Spain, 4:0 through Pedri
Spain go for the freestyle! Williams draws two opponents on the left, Pedri sneaks in behind him, takes the ball and slots it into the right-hand corner.
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54.
Toooooooooor for Spain, 3:0 through Lamine Yamal
Lamine Yamal takes the ball himself and confidently converts the penalty into the right-hand corner.
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51.
Penalty for Spain
Spain play a three against two. Williams passes to Yamal on the left, who is mowed down by Rabiot in the penalty area. Michael Oliver doesn't hesitate for a second and points to the spot. The VAR checks to see if it was offside, but Oliver's decision stands. Rabiot sees yellow.
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48.
France are building up a lot of momentum in the opening minutes. Hernandez makes his way down the left and plays the ball across the five-yard box. Dembélé is one step too late at the right-hand post.
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46.
Start of 2nd half
The second half continues!
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45.+3.
End of 1st half
Spain lead France 2-0 at the break. The French dominate the game for long stretches, but are unable to find a direct route to the opposing goal. At the other end, two brilliant strikes from Oyarzabal were enough for Williams and Merino to score.
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44.
Dream goal is whistled back for offside
After a free kick from halfway, Yamal lifts the ball into the penalty area with his far post. Suddenly, three Spaniards behind the backline find themselves alone in front of Maignan. Merino makes a superb save for Huijsen to hit the left crossbar. However, the linesman immediately raises his flag.
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41.
Can France react before the break? The Spaniards are hardly allowing anything in their own penalty area. The French star attack has not yet been able to develop as desired.
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33.
Yamal is working well at the back, but he is outmuscled by the speedy Doué. He stomps into his legs from behind and is shown a yellow card.
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31.
How do the French react? They try to slowly work their way forward. Spain are deep in their own half of the pitch after the two goals. Nevertheless, France have two good chances. Doué fails to score from the second row and Mbappé fails to beat Unai Simon from around 15 meters.
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25.
Toooooooooor for Spain, 2:0 through Mikel Merino
Double strike! Mikel Merino initiates the attack himself. He plays a one-two with Oyarzabal and then runs into the gap. He slots into the right-hand corner. Maignan is let down by his front men.
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22.
Toooooooooor for Spain, 1:0 through Nico Williams
The French leave Yamal free on the right wing and he moves towards the center and plays the pass into the penalty area. Oyarzabal covers the ball and passes through to Nico Williams on the left. The Athletic Bilbao striker does not need to be asked twice from this distance.
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19.
Out of nowhere, Spain have a great chance. Williams is sent deep on the left and tries a shot from an acute angle. Maignan is on the spot with his legs. Yamal's follow-up shot goes wide of goal.
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17.
France have taken control of the game and now have more possession. Spain are concentrating on closing down the spaces at the moment. Nevertheless, the French are getting through time and again. However, Doué's shot from distance is all they manage.
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12.
Hernandez hits the crossbar
France clearly have more of the play in this opening phase. After a corner kick, the ball reaches Hernandez on the edge of the penalty area and he takes a shot. The ball grazes the crossbar!
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10.
Both teams are really into football. France are playing very high pressing and are already causing problems deep in their opponents' half of the pitch. Spain are keeping their cool so far and are increasingly trying to play down the right and Yamal.
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7.
First great chance
Cucurella misplaces the ball on the halfway line and suddenly three French players storm into the penalty area. Mbappé is played in on the right, he puts the ball a little too far forward and is unable to lift it over Unai Simon.
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6.
The Spaniards complain about a handball from Yamal's subsequent corner kick. Oliver allows play to continue.
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5.
First dangerous scene in the French penalty area. The ball comes to rest at the right-hand post, Yamal shoots at full stretch but only hits the opponent in front of him.
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4.
A year has passed, but the German public don't seem to have forgotten anything. Cucurella is booed every time he touches the ball. In the run-up to this match, he said that this would not bother him as a professional.
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2.
It starts right away with a rough foul by Koné on Merino. The Frenchman stands on his opponent's foot and referee Michael Oliver closes one eye.
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1.
Start of the match
The ball is rolling in the MHPArena in Stuttgart!
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0.
Reprise of the 2024 European Championship semi-final
In Stuttgart, the French have the opportunity to make amends for their semi-final defeat at last year's European Championship. One player in particular shone in the 2:1 defeat for the French in Munich's Allianz Arena: Lamine Yamal. The star of the 17-year-old prodigy, who turns 18 in just over a month, really rose a year ago. Yamal has now led his club Barca to the league title and could play a decisive role again today.
On the other hand, there is another young talent who has caused a sensation in recent weeks: Désiré Doué. He turned 20 two days ago and gave himself a gift last Saturday with a brace and an assist in the Champions League final against Inter. Together with Mbappé and Dembélé, he will make the opposition's penalty area unsafe.
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0.
The line-ups are out: this is how Spain and France will line up
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0.
Yamal vs Dembélé - will the race for the Ballon d'Or be decided today?
Spain versus France is also the duel between the two top favorites for this year's Ballon d'Or. On the one side is shooting star Lamine Yamal, who led Barcelona to the double as a 17-year-old. On the other, Ousmane Dembélé, who even won the treble with PSG and was outstanding on the way to the Champions League triumph.
When asked whether the match against France could be decisive for the vote in October, Yamal replied aggressively: "I would give the Ballon d'Or to the best player of the year. But if people want us to play for it on Thursday, then fine - let's play on Thursday!" Read more here.
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0.
Hello ...
... and welcome to the live ticker of the Nations League semi-final between Spain and France. Who will follow Portugal into the final? You can follow the game live here from 9pm.
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90.+7.End of 2nd half
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90.+6.Yellow card Spain
Gavi
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90.+4.Yellow card France
Randal Kolo Muani
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90.+3.Goal for France, 5:4 through Randal Kolo Muani (Rayan Cherki)
Randal Kolo Muani
Striker
Assist: Rayan Cherki
Striker
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90.+2.Substitution in Spain
Gavi
Midfielder
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90.+2.Substitution out Spain
Mikel Merino
Midfielder
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84.Goal for France, 5:3 through an own goal by Dani Vivian
Dani Vivian
Defender
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82.Yellow card France
Theo Hernandez
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79.Goal for France, 5:2 through Rayan Cherki (Kylian Mbappé)
Rayan Cherki
Striker
Assist: Kylian Mbappé
Striker
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77.Substitution in Spain
Samu Aghehowa
Striker
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77.Substitution out Spain
Mikel Oyarzabal
Striker
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77.Substitution in Spain
Dani Vivian
Defender
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77.Substitution out Spain
Robin Le Normand
Defender
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76.Substitution in France
Randal Kolo Muani
Striker
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76.Substitution out France
Ousmane Dembélé
Midfielder
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72.Substitution in France
Lucas Hernandez
Defender
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72.Substitution out France
Clément Lenglet
Defender
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67.Goal for Spain, 5:1 through Lamine Yamal (Pedro Porro)
Lamine Yamal
Striker
Assist: Pedro Porro
Defender
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64.Substitution in Spain
Fabián Ruiz
Midfielder
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64.Substitution out Spain
Pedri
Midfielder
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64.Substitution in Spain
Dani Olmo
Striker
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64.Substitution out Spain
Nico Williams
Striker
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63.Substitution in France
Rayan Cherki
Striker
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63.Substitution out France
Michael Olise
Midfielder
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63.Substitution in France
Bradley Barcola
Striker
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63.Substitution out France
Désiré Doué
Midfielder
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63.Substitution in France
Malo Gusto
Defender
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63.Substitution out France
Pierre Kalulu
Defender
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59.Goal for France, 4:1 through penalties from Kylian Mbappé
Kylian Mbappé
Striker
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55.Goal for Spain, 4:0 through Pedri (Nico Williams)
Pedri
Midfielder
Assist: Nico Williams
Striker
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54.Goal for Spain, 3:0 through penalties from Lamine Yamal
Lamine Yamal
Striker
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51.Yellow card France
Adrien Rabiot
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46.Kick-off 2nd half
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45.+3.End of 1st half
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33.Yellow card Spain
Lamine Yamal
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25.Goal for Spain, 2:0 through Mikel Merino (Mikel Oyarzabal)
Mikel Merino
Midfielder
Assist: Mikel Oyarzabal
Striker
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22.Goal for Spain, 1:0 through Nico Williams (Mikel Oyarzabal)
Nico Williams
Striker
Assist: Mikel Oyarzabal
Striker
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Yellow card France
Manu Koné
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1.Start of the match
