Portugal is waiting in the final
© Imago
With force, sophistication and exceptional talent Lamine Yamal: European champion Spain, through a spectacular 5: 4 (2: 0) against Vice World Champion France, stormed into the final of the Nations League, but even had to tremble briefly at the end. So the encounter became the most goal-rich game in the still young National League story-and that in a semi-finals.
Another victory against Portugal would give the protégés of coach Luis de la Fuente on Sunday (9 p.m.) in Munich and make Europe’s triple consisting of Nations League, EM and Nations League perfect. France meets the German national team a few hours earlier (3 p.m.), who, after their disappointing semi-finals in the game for third place in Stuttgart, strives for at least a conciliatory end of the home event.
Nico Williams (22nd minute) and Mikel Merino (25th) met in a fast -paced and highly entertaining game for the Spaniards early on. After the break, the shiny double scorer Lamine Yamal (54th, penalty/67th) and Pedri (55th) followed in the sold -out Stuttgart arena.
For the French, Kylian Mbappé also met with a penalty (59th) and substitute Rayan Cherki (79.). An own goal of Spain’s Dani Vivian (84th) and a very late goal by Randal Kolo Muani (90.+3) were the final points of the memorable nine-goal spectacle, which in the end would almost be overturned.
The game started briskly. Spain initially had more possession of the ball, France the better chances. Sometimes the highly praised offensive of the Équipe Tricolore around Mbappé, the former Dortmund Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué and Michael Olise from the German record champion FC Bayern Munich, but in precision – and in total for a long time in efficiency. Spain’s goalkeeper Unai Simón was on the spot several times. In the event of a shot from Théo Hernández to the crossbar, the captain between the posts of the Iberers could no longer have done anything (12th).
And Spain’s offensive around Lamine Yamal? The 17-year-old from FC Barcelona had his large technical class flashing several times. At least for the first goals, other heroes of the European Championship from the summer of 2024. Mikel Oyarzabal, winning goal scorer at the 2-1 final victory against England at the time, prepared the Spaniard’s first two goals. First he served Williams, who hammered the ball under the Tordach. Then he lifted the ball as worth seeing in the run of Merino, who placed 2-0 with a placed low shot.
Merino and Stuttgart? There was something. Already when victory against Germany in the European Championship thriller of the previous year, the former Dortmund had hit – to decide in extra time. Just like back then, this time he cheered with a dance around the corner flag. And his father Ángel in Stuttgart had already shown exactly the same jubilation – after a goal 34 years ago.
After the change of sides there was a club thick for the French. Only Lamine Yamal converted a penalty caused by Adrien Rabiot, then Pedri scored after a fine move and with a wonderful lupfer to 4: 0. It was goals that reminded of the famous times of the crowned generation around Xavi Hernández and Andrés Iniesta.
Mbappé also met with a penalty after a foul by Pedro Porro. Only shortly later, the team of the coach Didier Deschamps, who played after the 2026 World Cup, had to accept the next neck strike. Lamine Yamal hit the tip and laced the double pack. Cherki rewarded France’s morality with another goal. According to an own goal of the substitute Vivian, it even became exciting. Kolo Muani shortened in added time to 4: 5, but it was no longer enough to compensate. In the end, the Spaniards celebrated again.