Spain edge France 5-4 in UEFA Nations League Semifinal! Lamine Yamal shines again

Lamine Yamal Makes History: Spain Outlasts France in Nine-Goal UEFA Nations League Thriller.
A New Star Rises: Lamine Yamal’s Record-Breaking Performance Powers Spain to Nations League Final.
World Cup Favorites? Spain’s High-Scoring Victory Over France Sparks Debate.

The Nine-Goal UEFA Nations League Semifinal: Spain vs. France

The UEFA Nations League semifinal clash between Spain and France delivered an unforgettable spectacle at the MPHArena in Stuttgart, culminating in a thrilling 5-4 victory for Spain. Described as a “crazy game” by Spain goalscorer Mikel Merino, this match was an “all-time classic” for fans, though perhaps not for the coaches.
Spain, the defending champions, are now set to face Portugal in the final, marking their third consecutive appearance in the UEFA Nations League final.

A Goal Fest from Kick-off

The match kicked off with France dominating possession early on, but it was Spain who turned the game in their favor with two quick goals in the first half.
Nico Williams opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, smashing the ball into the net after a layoff from Oyarzabal.

Just three minutes later, Mikel Merino doubled Spain’s lead with a one-touch move with Oyarzabal, finding the bottom right corner.
Spain even had a goal disallowed for offside in the 44th minute, highlighting their attacking intent.

France, despite completing more passes in the first half (202 to Spain’s 172), couldn’t find the back of the net, thanks to Unai Simon’s crucial saves.
The first half ended with Spain comfortably leading 2-0.

Second Half Explosion and Record-Breaking Moments

The second half continued the goal-scoring spree. Spain quickly extended their lead to 4-0 within the first 15 minutes of the half.
In the 50th minute, Lamine Yamal was fouled inside the box, earning Spain a penalty, which he calmly converted into the bottom right corner in the 54th minute, making it 3-0.

This penalty was confirmed after a VAR check. Just a minute later, Pedri chipped the ball past Maignan for Spain’s fourth goal, catching France off guard.

France responded with a penalty of their own in the 59th minute, scored by captain Kylian Mbappe after Porro pulled him down in the box. However, Lamine Yamal struck again in the 67th minute, poking the ball in from a tight angle for his second goal of the night, extending Spain’s lead to 5-1.

Lamine Yamal’s Historic Achievement

At just 17 years and 318 days old, Lamine Yamal made history by becoming the youngest player to score in a UEFA Nations League semifinal. He surpassed the previous record held by Netherlands’ Matthijs de Ligt, who was 19 years and 298 days old when he scored in 2019.

Yamal’s performance was pivotal, involving winning and converting a penalty, and adding a clever finish, earning him praise as a “genius” and cementing his credentials as a Ballon d’Or contender.

France’s Resilient Fightback

Despite being 5-1 down, France showed remarkable resilience. Debutant Rayan Cherki scored a stunning volley from the edge of the box in the 79th minute, marking France’s second goal. This was followed by an own goal by Vivian in the 84th minute, and Kolo Muani headed in France’s fourth goal in the 90+3rd minute from Cherki’s cross. The match concluded with Spain winning 5-4 after a frantic final few minutes.

Are Spain the World Cup Favorites?

Spain’s thrilling victory, characterized by 40 shots and 17 on target, showcased their attacking prowess and a team filled with young stars like Yamal, Pedri, and Nico Williams.

With an average age of 24 and their oldest player at 28, Spain is being hailed as potential World Cup favorites for the upcoming summer, having also won the last Nations League and Euro 2024. Spanish journalist Guillem Balague noted that Spain’s performance represents “the predominant model of our times,” with intelligent, creative, and committed players.

However, questions remain about Spain’s defense, which conceded four goals and nearly blew a 5-1 lead.

France, too, had their attacking moments, with Mbappe having chances and Cherki making a significant impact on his debut.

French coach Didier Deschamps acknowledged the defensive issues, noting his backline wasn’t used to playing together.

The stage is now set for an exciting UEFA Nations League final between Spain and Portugal, both vying for their second title.
Fans can anticipate another high-stakes encounter from these two European giants.

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