Match Review: Spain vs France UEFA Nations League 2025
Spain vs France UEFA Nations League SI semifinal became a nail bitter with Spain taking the commanding 4-0 lead when France made it an exciting finish to the match. The kickoff was on June 5, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. ET. Spain made it to their third Nations League final against Portugal on June 8, 2025 at Munich’s Allianz Arena. France, who tried to rebound in the match, will now play Germany for a 3rd place playoff.
Spain’s commanding win was a product of their firepower on offense with goals from Nico Williams, Mikel Merino, Lamine Yamal (2 goals), and Pedri. France managed goals from Kylian Mbappe, Rayan Cherki, Randal Kolo Muani, and an own goal from Spain’s Dani Vivian, but still was not enough to change the outcome of the match. Notably, this match was the first time France conceded five goals in a match since 1969. This adds to the significance of the match in the long history and rivalry of France vs Spain football.
Key Moments and Goals in Spain vs France
Here’s a breakdown of the Spain vs France match highlights:
- 22nd Minute: Nico Williams (1-0) – Spain took the lead through Williams, who controlled an excellent pass before firing beyond Mike Maignan.
- 25th Minute: Mikel Merino (2-0) – Merino doubled Spain’s lead with a low and clinical finish after a quick move through the middle of the pitch.
- 54th Minute: Lamine Yamal (3-0, Penalty) – The 17-year-old calmly put away a penalty to show his worth as a Ballon d’Or candidate.
- 55th Minute: Pedri (4-0) – Barcelona and Spain’s midfielder gave a superb finish to clip the ball over Maignan, making life difficult for the French.
- 59th Minute: Kylian Mbappe (4-1, Penalty) – France got one back, with Mbappe sliding a penalty home to spark hopes of a comeback for Les Bleus.
- 67th Minute: Lamine Yamal (5-1) – Yamal scored his second, sliding a finish past Maignan with the assist from Pedro Porro, capping off a brilliant performance.
- 79th Minute: Rayan Cherki (5-2) – France’s substitute ignited the comeback with a well-taken goal.
- 84th Minute: Dani Vivian Own Goal (5-3) – A deflected effort from Vivian gave the French a lifeline.
- 90+3rd Minute: Randal Kolo Muani (5-4) – A late strike from Kolo Muani brought France to within one goal, but Spain held on for the win.
The match was a reflection of attacking strength from Spain who had 16 shots (8 on goal) with 44% possession versus France with 24 shots (9 on goal) and 56% possession. Even if France had come alive and created chances towards the end of the game, their defeat was clearly established early on in the match and Lamine Yamal was awarded player-of-the-match to prove how good Spain were.
Key Players in Spain vs France
Spain’s Standouts
- Lamine Yamal: The teenage prodigy scored two of Spain’s 13 goals (including one penalty) and was singled out for his electrifying performance and was called a “Ballon d’Or statement” by Spain’s coach Luis de la Fuente. Keywords: Lamine Yamal goals, Yamal Nations League.
- Nico Williams: The Athletic Bilbao winger scored the first goal for Spain, and exploited the French defense with his speed.
- Pedri and Mikel Merino: The midfield dynamism and goal contributions from Pedri and Mikel Merino were vital to Spain’s early lead.
- Unai Simon: The goalkeeper was instrumental with important saves from Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue to maintain Spain’s lead.
The Spanish lineup included young players like Pau Cubarsi and Dean Huijsen in defense due to injuries to Rodri, Dani Carvajal, and Aymeric Laporte.
France’s Fighters
- Kylian Mbappe: France’s captain’s empowering penalty goal to keep the team look to be in the game, although he could not fully swing the momentum in their favour. Keywords: Mbappe vs Spain, Kylian Mbappe goal.
- Rayan Cherki: France’s sub to make an impact, score and infuse energy off the bench, helping in an ultimately lost battle.
- Randal Kolo Muani: His stoppage-time goal showed France’s never-say-die mentality.
- Ousmane Dembele: Although Dembele missed key moments, it was his pace that continued to test Spain’s backline.
France was also dealing with fatigue from Champions League games, as Didier Deschamps rotated an array of players like Malo Gusto and Lucas Hernandez.
Where to Watch Spain vs France Highlights
Fans can relive the Spain vs France 5-4 thriller through various platforms:
- TV Channels: Highlights on FOX Sports, TF1 (France), and RTVE (Spain)
- Streaming: UEFA.tv, Sofascore, and Goal.com offer match replays and live commentary
- Social Media: Check posts on X for fan reactions and goal clips
Analysis: Why Spain Won and What’s Next
Spain’s performance exemplified the depth and resilience of their attacking capabilities in this tournament, even in the absence of vital personnel like Rodri and Carvajal. Spain have not lost a game since March 2023, boasting 15 wins out of 20 matches, along with another five draws. 16 of the games played since then have been with two or more goals. Spain showed great team rotation and attitude, with Lamine Yamal scoring twice and Pedri offering flair to take advantage of the French defensive issues in their absence of Dayot Upamecano and Jules Kounde.
France’s late fightback speaks to their attacking depth, with players like Cherki and Kolo Muani coming off the bench to good effect. France’s inability to convert several early chances, including missed opportunities by Dembele and Doue, proved to be costly. Criticism continues of Didier Deschamps tactics, with contributors particularly observant of the French team, with all of their talent, does not seem to include enough flair.
Spain now meets Portugal in the UEFA Nations League final on June 8, 2025, with their aim to become the first team to defend the title. France will face Germany earlier that day, in the third-place play off. This result sets up an exciting final opportunity, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Yamal ready to meet in Munich.
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