Spain 5-4 France: Yamal's brace fires La Roja to final in a 9-goal thriller

Spain have made it through to a second consecutive UEFA Nations League final after a 5-3 victory over France in their semi-final clash in Stuttgart.

Match Report

There may not have been an early goal at the MHPArena, but the anticipatory sounds of awe - outside of the boos aimed at Marc Cucurella - offer an insight into how entertaining it was.

That was best encapsulated by Theo Hernandez, who hit one shot over, had an effort blocked and struck the crossbar in addition to deflecting a Lamine Yamal shot wide inside the opening 12 minutes.

Nico Williams and Désiré Doué both cut inside before seeing their respective curling efforts saved, before Williams went on the outside and hit a shot that was awkwardly stopped by Mike Maignan.

Williams made no mistake from his third opportunity, as Mikel Oyarzabal held off Ibrahima Konate and rolled the ball towards the winger for him to smash it past Maignan to open the scoring in the 22nd minute.

Oyarzabal was the creator again just three minutes later, playing a one-two with Mikel Merino to release the midfielder, who applied a cool finish. Unai Simon did well to deny Doue and Kylian Mbappe despite being unsighted on both occasions as France looked to respond, and the Spanish goalkeeper then got down to palm away Ousmane Dembele’s strike. 

La Roja thought they had a third from a brilliantly inventive free-kick routine before the break, but Dean Huijsen’s volley was ruled out due to a marginal offside call.

Spain - France match statsFlashscore

Despite a promising start in the second half, Les Bleus found themselves in trouble yet again when Adrien Rabiot brought Yamal down to concede a penalty, which the winger converted by sending Maignan the wrong way.

Almost immediately after, Pedri played the ball to Williams, and got it back from the winger before effortlessly beating Maignan to stretch La Roja’s advantage to four. 

As France stared humiliation in the face, Mbappe won a penalty from Pedro Porro, and fooled Simon from the spot-kick to restore a glimmer of hope for his side.

Doue then came agonisingly close to a French second, but they were dismantled by Yamal again as he held off Clement Lenglet and poked the ball past Maignan for his side’s fifth of the night.

There was a moment for Rayan Cherki to savour as he scored a memorable debut goal with an unstoppable strike. Five minutes later, he slipped the ball through for Malo Gusto to deliver a cross that Dani Vivian diverted into his own net.

Randal Kolo Muani then headed home from Cherki’s cross to set off Spanish nerves, but La Roja survived to extend their unbeaten record to 19 matches in all competitions, and 12 in the UNL to secure their place in the final, where they will face Portugal.

A third-place play-off against Germany awaits Les Bleus, who were also beaten by Spain in the UEFA European Championship semi-final last year.

Data Debrief: Spain haunt France once more

Only twice have France conceded two goals in the opening half an hour of matches under Deschamps, and Spain have been responsible for both occasions, also doing so in their Euro 2024 semi-final.

And it is the first time Les Bleus have conceded five goals in a single game since March 12, 1969 against England (5-0).

Spain, meanwhile, have scored at least three goals against France for the first time in official competition, and it is the first time they have scored five since June 1949 in a friendly in Paris (5-1).

France valiantly fought back and almost forced extra-time, but they could not end La Roja's winning streak. Luis de la Fuente's side have not lost since March 2023, when they were beaten 2-0 by Scotland in qualifying for Euro 2024. 

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

1' Highlight from Spain vs France

4' First chance of the game as Theo drives a shot over from 20 yards

7' Dembele plays it right to Mbappe in space in the box but his shot is saved

9' Match Event for Spain vs France

12' CLOSE! Theo's effort from the edge of the box strikes the crossbar

18' Desire Doue cuts in but his effort is saved by Unai Simon

20' Nico Williams has a shot saved by Mike Maignan down low

22' GOAL! Oyarzabal assists Nico Williams to open the scoring! Spain 1-0 France

25' 2 goals in 3 minutes! Merino doubles the lead from Oyarzabal! Spain 2-0 France

31' Doue blasts in a shot from the edge of the box which Simon gets down low to save

35' Yamal picks up a yellow card as he hacks down Desire Doue from behind

37' Dembele hits a shot which is saved down low one handed by Unai Simon

43' Dembele is offside as he runs onto Kone's reverse ball before having a shot

45' Huijsen hooks in a fine volley but it's disallowed for offside

46' Dembele wriggles his way free on the edge of the box but his shot is saved again

46' Lamine Yamal picks out Mikel Oyarzabal, whose shot is saved

49' Match Event for Spain vs France

54' Penalty Goal! Yamal steps up and casually scores the goal! Spain 3-0 France

55' GOAL! Pedri knocks the ball past Mike Maignan for a fourth! Spain 4-0 France

60' Penalty Goal! Mbappe pulls one back for visitors! Spain 4-1 France

65' Doue tries to bend the ball in the far corner but it goes just wide

67' GOAL! Yamal takes it past Lenglet and gets his second goal! Spain 5-1 France

73' CLOSE! Dembele hits the post from an almost impossible angle

78' Spain gift Mbappe a chance to score but it's not his best effort and Simon saves

80' GOAL! Cherki hits a stunning volley from outside the box! Spain 5-2 France

84' Theo booked for fouling Yamal near the centre circle after his tricky footwork

85' OWN GOAL! Vivian turns Gusto's low cross into his own net! Spain 5-3 France

89' Highlight from Spain vs France

92' GOAL! Kolo Muani powers in a header from Cherki's cross! Spain 5-4 France

Line-ups

Spain XI: Le Normand, Merino, Unai Simón, Cucurella, Oyarzabal, Martín Zubimendi, Porro, Pedri, Nico Williams, Dean Huijsen, Yamal

Subs: Isco, Morata, Grimaldo, Álex Remiro, David Raya, Fabian Ruiz, Olmo, Dani Vivian, Álex Baena, Óscar Mingueza, Yeremy, Gavi, Fermín López, Samu Aghehowa, Cubarsi

France XI: Maignan, Lenglet, Rabiot, Dembele, Theo, Mbappe, Konate, Kalulu, Manu Koné, Olise, Doue

Subs: Digne, Brice Samba, Lucas, Thuram, Pavard, Guendouzi, Tchouameni, Muani, Loïc Badé, Cherki, Lucas Chevalier, Gusto, Barcola, Zaire-Emery