Spain’s young sensation Lamine Yamal stole the spotlight with two crucial goals as La Roja edged past a resilient France 5-4 in a breathtaking Nations League semi-final in Stuttgart. The 17-year-old Barcelona forward was instrumental in building commanding leads of 4-0 and 5-1, but France mounted a late, fierce fightback that nearly forced extra time.
Spain now advance to face Portugal in Sunday’s final in Munich, while France will battle Germany for third place.
The match was a rollercoaster of emotions and goals. Early strikes from Nico Williams and Mikel Merino gave Spain control, before Yamal earned and converted a penalty, demonstrating his poise beyond his years. Pedri’s clinical finish extended the lead to 4-0, setting the stage for what looked like a comfortable win.
However, France refused to quit. Kylian Mbappe’s penalty reignited hope, and substitute Rayan Cherki—making his international debut—sparked a thrilling resurgence, scoring a stunning volley and assisting a late header from Randal Kolo Muani. Despite conceding an own goal by Spanish defender Dani Vivian, Spain managed to hold off France’s late surge.
The game featured top talents from both sides, including PSG teammates Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue for France, adding further drama. Goalkeeper Unai Simon was crucial for Spain, making key saves as France pressed hard in the closing stages.
This nail-biting encounter between two of Europe’s best sides lived up to its billing as a classic, promising an electrifying final showdown against Portugal for Spain.
