Spain vs France Nations League Semi Final 2025 delivered the competition’s wildest score-line yet, a nine-goal roller-coaster that ended 5-4 to La Roja at Stuttgart’s MHP Arena on 5 June 2025. A generational brace from 17-year-old Lamine Yamal powered Spain into a record-third straight Nations League final and consigned Didier Deschamps’ France to a night of “what-ifs” despite a furious late rally. The thriller also set a new high-scoring record for the tournament and marked the first time Les Bleus shipped five goals since 1969
🏁 Introduction / Match Context / Why It Matters
- Tournament stakes: The semi-final was the penultimate step of the 2024-25 UEFA Nations League finals, with Spain chasing back-to-back titles after lifting the trophy in 2023, while France sought redemption for their 2021 final defeat of La Roja.
- Route to Stuttgart: Spain edged the Netherlands on penalties and blitzed Croatia earlier in the spring; France overturned Croatia on spot-kicks after a first-leg deficit to book their place.
- Why fans cared: Besides a ticket to Sunday’s final in Munich, the match was framed as a Ballon d’Or sub-plot between Kylian Mbappé and wonder-kid Yamal, whose form has already bent award conversations.
⚽ Key Moments & Turning Points
- 22′ Nico Williams 1-0 – Thumped finish after Oyarzabal’s hold-up.
- 25′ Mikel Merino 2-0 – Late run, deft clip over Maignan.
- 53′ Lamine Yamal (pen) 3-0 – Rabiot fouls the winger; Yamal buries from 12 yards.
- 55′ Pedri 4-0 – One-touch sweep via Williams’ cut-back.
- 59′ Mbappé (pen) 4-1 – Porro upends the captain; lifeline converted.
- 67′ Yamal 5-1 – Scooped finish after Cucurella’s overlap.
- 79′ Rayan Cherki 5-2 – Debut golazo from 20 metres.
- 84′ Dani Vivian OG 5-3 – Gusto’s cross bundled in off the substitute centre-back.
- 90+3′ Randal Kolo Muani 5-4 – Last-gasp header, but no time for France.
🧠 Tactical Breakdown / Coach Strategy
Spain (4-3-3, Luis de la Fuente)
- Positional rotations: Yamal hugged the right touchline, Williams inverted from the left, dragging France’s full-backs into one-v-ones and isolating Konaté–Lenglet.
- Midfield triangles: Zubimendi anchored while Pedri and Merino timed third-man runs; the latter’s goal typified Spain’s verticality.
- Press trigger: When Maignan rolled short, Spain’s front three sprint-pressed; two early recoveries yielded the 2-0 cushion.
France (4-2-3-1→4-3-3, Didier Deschamps)
- High defensive line: Without Upamecano or Saliba, Lenglet’s lack of pace was exposed; Spain’s first two goals arrived inside the vacated channels.
- Mid-block issues: Rabiot-Koné duo failed to screen Pedri’s between-lines movement, prompting Deschamps to introduce Cherki and Barcola for extra creativity.
- Late surge tactic: Switch to wing-backs (Gusto, Hernández) plus Cherki at No. 10 overloaded Spain’s right and sparked the 79′–90′ comeback sequence.
🌟 Standout Performers & Player Ratings
| Spain | Rating | France | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamine Yamal – 2 ⚽, 1 drawn pen, 5 key passes | 9.5 | Kylian Mbappé – goal, 4 dribbles | 8 |
| Nico Williams – goal, 2 assists | 8.5 | Rayan Cherki – debut goal, 1 assist | 8 |
| Pedri – energetic engine, sublime 4-0 | 8 | Mike Maignan – 6 saves kept score respectable | 7 |
| Unai Simón – 7 saves, late stop on Mbappé | 8 | Adrien Rabiot – conceded pen, overrun | 5 |
| Ratings aggregated from Goal, Yahoo Sports, and GetFrenchFootballNews |
📊 Match Stats & Historical Context
- Shots: Spain 16 – 24 France; On target: 9-8 to Spain; Possession: 43 % ESP – 57 % FRA.
- First Nations League match ever with nine goals.
- France conceded five for the first time since a 5-0 loss to England in 1969.
- Spain now unbeaten in 12 Nations League games and reach their third consecutive final.
❌ What Went Wrong for France — and How They Could Have Advanced
- Fragile high line: Repeatedly beaten by direct runners; Deschamps admitted “errors defensivos puntuales” decided the tie.
- Midfield screening gaps: Koné-Rabiot failed to track Spanish half-space incursions, leaving the back line expose
- Inefficient finishing: 24 shots produced only four goals; Cherki’s and Mbappé’s late strikes came after the deficit was already 5-1.
- In-game adjustments came too late: The Gusto-Cherki double change sparked the rally, but not until the 63′ mark.
Road to improvement: Earlier switch to a 3-4-3 would have matched Spain’s width, while inserting Camavinga for control might have cut supply to Pedri and Yamal. Deschamps hinted at “changes for the third-place play-off” to address these issues
🔥 Lamine Yamal: Performance Analysis
Yamal’s night encapsulated why Luis de la Fuente called him a “constant threat”: he drew and converted the crucial penalty, added a poacher’s finish for 5-1, created five chances, and recorded the highest top speed of any player (35.1 km/h). “I try to give it all; France make you suffer,” he told Teledeporte post-match.
Deschamps earlier compared the teen to Mbappé with a single word—“fuoriclasse”—and the youngster repaid that compliment in full.
🔮 What It Means Going Forward / Predictions / Reactions
- Spain vs Portugal final (Munich, 8 June): Cristiano Ronaldo versus Yamal is the headline, but de la Fuente must tighten a defence that has leaked 11 in four games.
- French post-mortem: Media speculation over Zinedine Zidane resurfaced within hours of the defeat, underlining pressure on Deschamps ahead of World Cup 2026 prep.
- Player momentum: Yamal’s Ballon d’Or candidacy gains serious traction; Mbappé’s scoring drought ended, but defensive lapses overshadowed his 59′ penalty.
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