UEFA Nations League Semi-Final Spain 5-4 France: From Cruise Control To Panic Mode

The match that was touted as the decider for the ballon D’or, the final boss of the golden boy debate and it seems Spain and Lamine Yamal have come on top. 

Spain and France played a 9 goal thriller in Stuttgart

Spain and France played a 9 goal thriller in Stuttgart and almost France pulled off a generational comeback that could have seen the second semi-final of the UEFA Nations league go into the extra-time but the 5 goals were just enough.

The match started with a bang as inside 25 minutes Spain had scored twice through Nico Williams and Mikel Merino. It looked like Spain was running away with it and the France team was among the audience. 

Just before the Half-time whistle, Dean Huijsen scored a Golazo through a set piece but was ruled offside. 

Dean Huijsen scored a Golazo through a set piece but was ruled offside

The second half started with the same energy as Spain looked dangerous with every attack and in the 50th minute, Yamal secured a penalty as Rabiot brought him down. The golden boy scored from the spot and made the score 3-0.

This was not enough as pedri scored in the next minute as he controlled a beautiful pass from Nico Williams, and just like that the score became an unassailable 4-0. It looked like a game over for France but it was not to be. 

Kylian Mbappe ran into the Spain defence with grit

Kylian Mbappe ran into the Spain defence with grit and received a perfect gift from Pedro Porro inside the penalty area when he fouled the french talisman. Mbappe obliged as he scored the penalty in the 59th minute. 

The French hopes were cut short by none other than Lamine Yamal

The French hopes were cut short by none other than Lamine Yamal, who scored a scrappy goal and made the score 5-1 and now Spanish fans could celebrate as the game was practically over or so we thought. 

France were adamant of bringing something from the game, In the 79th minute, Rayan Cherki scored an amazing volley from outside the box to just give France a glimpse of hope for REDEMPTION. 

It looked like France this time was ready to grasp on any mistake that Spain committed and it was a speculative cross from Malo Gusto who made Dani Vivian commit a mistake inside his own penalty area and also score an own goal. 

The scoreline read 5-3.

The French had just gained the courage to commit the biggest comeback and they looked determined to cover the last mile. 

In the 90+3rd minute, Rando Kolo Muani scored the 4th goal for the French from a beautiful cross by Cherki. Unfortunately, for the France team this was the last goal of the match and Spain has just hung on to the win that they had in the bag and sealed. 

This was the highest scoring match in the history of the Nations League and rightfully the battle of the best. A 9 goal thriller with only 1 goal to separate the two sides.