Spain edge nine-goal thriller

-

Spain 5 - 4 France

Spain edged a breathless nine-goal contest against France to book their place in the Nations League final, with 17-year-old Lamine Yamal stealing the spotlight in Stuttgart.

Author | Jack L

Stadium | MHPArena

From across Europe | Spain v France Nations League

The Barcelona prodigy struck twice in a dazzling performance as Spain raced into a commanding 5-1 lead. Yamal, already being tipped as a Ballon d’Or contender, won and converted a penalty, before adding a smart finish to cap a stunning attacking display.RE

Goals from Nico Williams and Mikel Merino had put Spain 2-0 up before Yamal's spot-kick, while Pedri added a fourth after a slick move involving Williams. Kylian Mbappé responded for France from the penalty spot after Pedro Porro was penalised.

READ MORE | Portugal reach Nations League final

Yamal’s second seemed to have killed the game, but France mounted a remarkable late comeback. Substitute Rayan Cherki announced himself on debut with a spectacular volley from the edge of the box, before a Dani Vivian own goal and Randal Kolo Muani’s injury-time header brought the score to 5-4.

Despite the late surge, Spain held firm and will face Portugal in Sunday’s final in Munich. France, meanwhile, take on hosts Germany in the third-place play-off.

Proof that the Nations League matters?

This semi-final featured the last two Nations League winners, with France lifting the trophy in 2021 and Spain triumphing two years later. Both sides had reached the last four via penalty shootout victories, with France edging past the Netherlands and Spain getting the better of Croatia.

What followed in Stuttgart was an extraordinary contest few would have predicted.

France, runners-up at the 2022 World Cup, began on the front foot and forced Spain onto the back foot. Unai Simon was called into action several times, producing key saves to deny Désiré Doué and Ousmane Dembélé. Theo Hernandez struck the crossbar, while Adrien Rabiot and Dembélé both squandered chances.

Spain responded with ruthless efficiency. Nico Williams smashed a shot into the roof of the net to open the scoring, before Arsenal’s Mikel Merino doubled the lead, ghosting into space to finish unmarked from close range.

At half-time, with Spain leading 2-0, there was little indication of the chaos to come. The second half produced seven goals, with Spain pulling clear at 4-0 and 5-1 before a late French fightback set up a tense finale.

In the end, Spain held on to win a match that will live long in the memory.

Popular posts from this blog

De Bruyne moves to Napoli on free transfer

-
Image
The Italian champions have strengthened their squad Kevin De Bruyne has joined Napoli on a free transfer following his departure from Manchester City at the end of the Premier League season. Author | Macca De Bruyne playing for Belgium at Euro 2024 The Belgian midfielder links up with Antonio Conte, who guided Napoli to the Serie A title last season. De Bruyne turned down an offer from Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire in order to remain in European competition and is set to feature in the Champions League next term. His exit from City brings an end to a decade of service in which he won 19 major trophies, including six Premier League titles, after arriving from Wolfsburg in 2015.  READ MORE | Transfer news and rumours from European Super Football READ MORE | The night Napoli won Serie A Manchester City confirmed his departure before the season concluded, and he was given an emotional send-off at the Etihad Stadium following the final home game against Bournemouth. He made ...
Read more

England suffer friendly defeat against Senegal

-
Image
England 1 - 3 Senegal We try to pull together some measured reaction and reporting after England lose in Nottingham. It's only a post season friendly that nobody will remember in three months.  Author | Kieran M Stadium | The City Ground England fell to their first defeat under Thomas Tuchel as Senegal claimed a thoroughly deserved win in a low-key friendly at the City Ground. It wasn't a good performance from Tuchel’s team, who were outplayed by confident and composed opponents. Senegal became the first African nation to beat England’s men, and did so with an assured display.  For Tuchel though, it did give him an opportunity to see a different group of players together. He would have learned a lot from this. A closer look at what happened The evening had started brightly for the hosts, who took the lead in the seventh minute when Harry Kane reacted quickest after Edouard Mendy spilled Anthony Gordon’s low effort. It was Kane’s 73rd goal for England. This would be the...
Read more

England youngsters start Euros defence with a win

-
Image
Czech Republic 1 - 3 England Harvey Elliott set England Under-21s on course for a winning start as the reigning champions opened their European Championship defence with a composed victory over the Czech Republic in Slovakia. Author | George B Stadium | MOL Aréna Despite a string of withdrawals in the lead-up to the tournament, head coach Lee Carsley named an adventurous line-up for the Young Lions’ opener. England broke the deadlock six minutes before half-time. Tino Livramento, a lively presence down the left, saw his cross deflected into the box where captain James McAtee laid it off for Elliott, who finished with a crisp low drive. Livramento was central again for the second, gliding past his marker before delivering a low ball that brushed Jonathan Rowe en route to beating goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek. The Czechs responded swiftly through Daniel Fila, who nodded in Vaclav Sejk’s chipped cross just moments later. But England reasserted control and sealed the result 14 minutes from...
Read more