Spain 5-4 France: Reigning champions edge thriller to reach Nations League final

Spain gave up a huge lead against France, but held on to earn a thrilling 5-4 victory over Didier Deschamps' side to reach the Nations League final on Thursday.

Spain's title defence goes on, setting up a showpiece against Portugal in Munich on Sunday, while France will face Germany in the third-place play-off.

Les Bleus started brightly, with Theo Hernandez striking the crossbar early on with a curling off-balance shot, but Spain soon came to the fore.

Mikel Oyarzabal set up two goals in three minutes midway through the first half. He held off his defender to lay it off to Nico Williams, who emphatically fired into the roof of the net 22 minutes in, before feeding Mikel Merino to pick out the bottom-right corner.

Dean Huijsen was then denied a maiden Spain goal just before half-time. He volleyed Martin Zubimendi's cushioned header past Mike Maignan, but the goal was disallowed for offside.

Spain struck another quickfire blow in the second half. Adrien Rabiot slid in late on Yamal, who confidently converted the spot-kick he won in the 54th minute, sending Maignan the wrong way.

Pedri then added La Roja's fourth just over a minute later, finishing off a lovely one-two with Williams to dink his effort over Maignan and into the bottom corner.

Kylian Mbappe was then dragged down in the box by Pedro Porro five minutes later, with the France captain sending Unai Simon the wrong way from 12 yards, but Yamal restored the four-goal cushion in the 67th minute with a low shot across goal.

Ousmane Dembele struck the foot of the post from an acute angle, but it was Rayan Cherki who scored the pick of the goals with 11 minutes remaining.

Mbappe did brilliantly to pick him out on the edge of the D, and he lifted it into the air before putting his laces through a stunning volley to mark his France debut with a goal.

Les Bleus almost launched an unlikely late comeback, as Malo Gusto's dangerous delivery was turned into his own net by Dani Vivian, before Randal Kolo Muani snuck between Spain's defence to head Cherki's cross past Simon in stoppage time, but Spain held on.

Data Debrief: Spain haunt France once more

Only twice have France conceded two goals in the opening half an hour of matches under Deschamps, and Spain have been responsible for both occasions, also doing so in their Euro 2024 semi-final.

And it is the first time Les Bleus have conceded five goals in a single game since March 12, 1969 against England (5-0).

Spain, meanwhile, have scored at least three goals against France for the first time in official competition, and it is the first time they have scored five since June 1949 in a friendly in Paris (5-1).

France valiantly fought back and almost forced extra-time, but they could not end La Roja's winning streak. Luis de la Fuente's side have not lost since March 2023, when they were beaten 2-0 by Scotland in qualifying for Euro 2024.