Yamal brace helps Spain beat France to face Ronaldo’s Portugal in Nations League final: Highlights and goals

Spain beat France 5-4 for the 2025 UEFA Nations League and you lived every moment of this exciting game here, on Bolavip.

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What a wild ride in Stuttgart! Spain looked to be cruising after a dominant performance led by a sensational brace from Lamine Yamal, but a late French surge turned this semifinal into a thriller. Goals from Cherki, an own goal by Dani Vivian, and a powerful header by Kolo Muani brought Les Bleus to the brink of a historic comeback — but it wasn’t quite enough.

Spain advance with a 5–4 victory, and now turn their attention to the final, where they’ll face Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in a clash for the UEFA Nations League crown.

From dazzling youth to last-minute drama, this semifinal had it all. La Roja march on — but not without a few heart-pounding moments.

Unbelievable scenes in Stuttgart as Kolo Muani rises above the defense and powers home a brilliant header to bring France within striking distance. A perfect cross finds the forward in stride, and he makes no mistake — beating Unai Simon and cutting Spain’s lead to 5–4.

What was once a blowout is now a nail-biter. France are alive, pressing hard, and just one goal away from pulling off one of the greatest comebacks in tournament history. Buckle up — this one’s not over yet.

Spain make a tactical substitution to help weather the storm. Mikel Merino comes off after a solid shift, and in comes Gavi — a move clearly aimed at regaining control in midfield and disrupting France’s rhythm.

With his tenacity, pressing, and ability to break up play, Gavi is the perfect choice to handle the gritty side of the game. La Roja are looking to hold the lead, keep possession, and stop France’s quick transitions in the dying minutes.

France are throwing everything forward in search of a stunning comeback. The latest chance comes from Barcola, who slices through the Spanish defense with a brilliant solo run and lays it off perfectly for Kolo Muani — but the striker skies it into the stands.

A huge opportunity wasted, and you can feel the tension building. Spain are hanging on, praying to avoid more late drama as France push relentlessly. It’s all nerves now in Stuttgart.

Out of nowhere, it’s chaos at the back for Spain. Rayan Cherki threads a brilliant ball through to Malo Gusto, who whips in a dangerous low cross into the heart of the box. Under pressure, Dani Vivian tries to clear — but instead redirects the ball into his own net.

It’s an unfortunate moment for the Spanish defender, and suddenly France are back within reach at 5–3. What looked like a rout is turning into a late thriller — and France, against all odds, are starting to believe.

Out of nowhere, France find a spark — and it comes from the bench. Rayan Cherki, just recently introduced, unleashes a stunning strike from outside the box that rockets into the top corner, leaving Unai Simon with no chance.

It's a moment of brilliance from the Lyon talent, and it cuts Spain's lead to 5–2. A long road still ahead, but France are showing fight — and with a goal like that, the door to a miracle stays slightly ajar.

France continue to rotate, with Clement Lenglet already off, now joined by Ousmane Dembele. Coming in are Lucas Hernandez and Kolo Muani, as Deschamps looks to freshen up his squad in the final minutes.

Spain also make a pair of substitutions: Robin Le Normand and Oyarzabal come off after solid shifts, replaced by Vivian and Aghbowa. With the result all but sealed, Luis de la Fuente gives minutes to some of his depth players as Spain close in on the final.

With Spain putting on a footballing exhibition and completely dominating possession, the Spanish fans are in full voice. Every pass, every touch is being met with a chorus of “Olé, olé!” from the stands — a celebration of the style, confidence, and complete control La Roja are displaying.

It’s not just a win — it’s a statement. Spain are enjoying themselves, and so are their supporters.

France continue to search for a way through, trying to salvage pride in the final minutes. They’re pushing bodies forward and probing the Spanish back line — but La Roja remain compact, disciplined, and unfazed.

Spain’s defensive unit, anchored by Unai Simon and a well-organized back four, is absorbing the pressure with confidence.

Spain continue to run riot, and who else but Lamine Yamal to cap it off with style. The teenager snatches possession from Lenglet near the edge of the box, takes a touch, and fires a low, clinical strike across goal — beating Maignan with ease.

It’s Yamal’s second of the night and Spain’s fifth — a complete performance and a clear message to the rest of the tournament. The future is now, and it’s wearing red and yellow.

France make a triple change in search of fresh energy and ideas: Pierre Kalulu, Michael Olise, and Desire Doue make way for Malo Gusto, Rayan Cherki, and Barcola.

Spain respond with two changes of their own — Nico Williams and Pedri leave the pitch after standout performances, replaced by Dani Olmo and Fabian. Fresh legs as both teams adjust for the final stretch in Stuttgart.

Kylian Mbappé steps up and delivers with authority, smashing the penalty into the back of the net to make it 4–1. Unai Simón guesses the right way, but the power and precision of the strike leave him no chance.

It’s a lifeline for France, and Mbappé gives them a glimmer of hope. There’s still a mountain to climb — but Les Bleus are alive and pushing for a miracle in Stuttgart!

A glimmer of hope for Les Bleus as Kylian Mbappé finally breaks through the Spanish back line. With his trademark burst of pace, he drives into the box and forces the challenge — contact is clear, and the referee points straight to the spot.

La Roja are putting on a clinic, and now it’s a full-blown rout. Pedri adds his name to the scoresheet with a stunning goal — gliding past defenders with ease and placing his shot perfectly beyond Maignan.

Spain now lead 4–0, and it’s turning into a masterclass. From control to creativity to cold-blooded finishing, everything is clicking for Luis de la Fuente’s side. France are shell-shocked — and Spain are marching toward the final in style.

Cool as you like — the 17-year-old steps up and delivers with ice in his veins. Lamine Yamal slots the penalty past Mike Maignan with calm precision, sending the keeper the wrong way and extending Spain’s lead to 3–0.

Once again, the teenager rises to the occasion on the biggest stage. A moment of class, and Spain are now firmly in command of this semifinal!

A brilliant midfield recovery by Spain sparks a lethal counterattack. Nico Williams leads the charge with pace, slicing through the middle before sliding a perfectly timed pass to Lamine Yamal inside the box.

As Yamal cuts inside to shoot, Adrien Rabiot comes flying in with a late, clumsy challenge — and the referee doesn’t hesitate. Clear contact, clear penalty. Spain now have a golden chance to stretch their lead from the spot!

The second half kicks off with a flurry of action. Spain waste no time and threaten twice in quick succession, creating real danger inside the French box — but the final touch is just off.

France respond immediately with a sharp attack of their own, nearly pulling one back with a low-driven effort that forces Unai Simón into another alert intervention.

End-to-end intensity right from the restart — this semifinal is wide open!

The teams are back out, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. France waste no time — they’ve come out with urgency, pushing forward in search of a comeback. Deschamps’ side is throwing numbers ahead, hoping to halve the deficit quickly.

Spain, meanwhile, remain composed and look to capitalize on the spaces France are leaving behind. La Roja know a third goal could seal their ticket to the final. Expect an open, intense second half in Stuttgart!

At halftime, the stats reveal a match where France have had more of the ball but far less to show for it. Les Bleus hold a 54.4% share of possession compared to Spain’s 45.6%, but it’s been largely ineffective, lacking sharpness and end product. France have taken 13 shots in total, with only 5 on target — none of which have beaten Unai Simón. Spain, on the other hand, have been far more efficient: 9 shots, 4 on target, and 2 goals to show for it. It’s a textbook display of clinical finishing from La Roja, who have punished French mistakes and made the most of their chances. If Deschamps' side hope to turn things around, they’ll need to turn possession into production — and find a way past Spain’s in-form goalkeeper.

Lamine Yamal’s rise has captured the attention of the footballing world — and even his opponents are taking notice. Ahead of facing him in this high-stakes semifinal, France head coach Didier Deschamps didn’t shy away from praise.

“Yamal is one of those extraordinary players,” Deschamps said when asked about the Spanish teenager. The 2018 World Cup-winning manager was clearly impressed: “Players like him only come around every once in a while. What he does game after game… and at his age!”

Deschamps went even further, using a single word to sum up Yamal’s brilliance: “Fuoriclasse” — the Italian term for someone truly out of the ordinary, particularly in sports. He drew a direct line to his own superstar, Kylian Mbappé:

“Kylian was older when he was doing what Yamal is doing now at 18. They are the Fuoriclasse, as the Italians say. Exceptional players who leave their mark on soccer from a young age through their skill and play.”

An eventful first half comes to a close with Spain holding a commanding 2–0 advantage over France. Goals from Nico Williams and Mikel Merino have put La Roja in control, despite a spirited French effort.

France have had their moments — including a shot off the post and several dangerous chances — but Unai Simón has been outstanding between the sticks.

Les Bleus will need a big second half if they’re to mount a comeback and keep their final hopes alive. All to play for after the break!

Spain thought they had their third, but the flag is up. It all started from a free kick, with Lamine Yamal floating a lofted ball into the box. Zubimendi rises to meet it and nods it back across goal, where Huijsen fires it home from close range.

But the assistant referee immediately signals offside — Zubimendi had strayed just ahead of the last defender before making the header. No complaints from Spain, as the call is correct.

France continue to press in search of a goal. Kone slips a clever ball through to Dembélé, who times his run — but not quite well enough. The flag eventually goes up for offside.

Still, Unai Simón wasn’t taking any chances. He makes a sharp save on Dembélé’s effort, once again showcasing his focus and form. Even when the play doesn’t count, the Spanish keeper is locked in.

Spain continue to hold a 2–0 lead, and much of that is thanks to the outstanding performance of goalkeeper Unai Simón. The Athletic Club shot-stopper has come up big on multiple occasions, denying France with sharp reflexes and confident positioning.

His key saves have kept La Roja in control despite France’s surges. With halftime approaching, Spain will be eager to maintain this cushion — and Simón is proving to be a vital last line of defense.

A sloppy throw-in by Pedro Porro puts Spain in trouble, handing possession straight to Désiré Doué. The French midfielder surges forward, but Lamine Yamal chases him down and clips him from behind with a late sliding challenge.

The referee doesn't hesitate — yellow card for Yamal, and a dangerous free kick awarded to France just outside the box. But Les Bleus waste the opportunity.

France are pushing hard to stay in the match, and Désiré Doué nearly delivers. He picks up the ball at the edge of the box, creates just enough space, and unleashes a powerful strike toward goal.

Unai Simón reacts sharply, parrying the shot away — a crucial save to preserve Spain’s two-goal cushion. France showing signs of life, but they need a breakthrough soon.

Spain carve open the French defense with a stunning display of one-touch passing and movement. The ball flows through midfield with precision before landing at the feet of Miguel Merino, who times his run perfectly.

He finishes it with composure, slotting it past Maignan to double Spain’s lead. A textbook team goal — and La Roja are flying in Stuttgart!

Against the run of play, Spain strike first — and it’s a beauty. Lamine Yamal sparks the move with a brilliant individual run, cutting inside and threading a sharp pass to the penalty spot. Oyarzabal does superbly to hold off his defender, controls under pressure, and then lays it off perfectly for Nico Williams.

Williams keeps his cool and slots it past Maignan — clinical finish!

Spain lead 1–0 in Stuttgart, and suddenly this semifinal has flipped on its head!

France once again win the ball back in midfield, capitalizing on a loose Spanish pass. Adrien Rabiot finds himself in acres of space and decides to go for goal from distance, but his shot flies well over the crossbar.

A missed opportunity, but France continue to apply pressure.

France are firmly in control, dictating possession and rhythm with confidence. Their technical quality is shining through, especially in the final third — Dembélé and Mbappé are running the show, constantly asking questions of the Spanish backline.

Spain are holding on for now, but France look sharper, quicker, and more dangerous as we move deeper into the first half.

Following a well-earned corner, the ball is cleared only as far as Theo Hernández at the edge of the box. The full-back meets it with a clean, thunderous strike — and it smashes off the left post of Unai Simón’s goal!

So close to the opener for Les Bleus. Spain breathe a sigh of relief, but France are knocking loudly at the door.

Les Bleus are pressing with intensity and imposing their physicality, forcing Spain to play on the edge. La Roja are holding their ground, but every touch feels like it's under pressure. They're walking a fine line, one turnover away from danger.

For now, it’s France dictating the tempo in Stuttgart.

Ousmane Dembélé wins the ball back high up the pitch and sparks a lightning-fast counter. He finds Kylian Mbappé in space, who drives forward with intent and slices through the Spanish backline.

Mbappé lays it off perfectly for Désiré Doué, but the young midfielder skies his shot from close range! That should’ve been the opener — a huge let-off for Spain.

Lamine Yamal links up brilliantly with Pedro Porro down the right flank, combining with pace and precision. The move ends with a dangerous cross into the box, but the French defense scrambles to clear it.

France immediately counters — a quick transition leads to a shot from the edge of the box, but it sails just over the bar.

And we’re underway in Stuttgart!   

A thrilling semifinal clash between Spain and France kicks off, with a spot in the final on the line. France take the opening kickoff and immediately look to set the tempo. Let the battle begin!

The two semifinal contenders have taken their places, and the national anthems are echoing around the MHPArena. Electric atmosphere here in Stuttgart as we inch closer to kickoff!

Lamine adds even more excitement to the semifinals with recent comments. In an interview with El Partidazo de COPE, Yamal offered a compelling perspective on how the Ballon d’Or should be decided:

“Everyone sees it their own way. I’m hoping we win [against France] on Thursday. But whether we win or not, I’d vote for the best player of the year,” he stated.

He added, “Because if Thursday doesn’t go the way I want or Dembélé wants, then what? You’re voting for someone else who plays on Sunday? I’m the kind of person who votes for the best player over the whole year. But if people want to risk it all on one game, well… let’s play that game then.”

Griezmann is not available for today’s clash against Spain because he was not included in the squad — a direct result of his international retirement in September 2024. His absence marks the end of a legendary chapter for French soccer.

During his international career, Griezmann won three major trophies with France: the UEFA European Under-19 Championship (2010), the FIFA World Cup (2018), and the UEFA Nations League (2020–21). He retires from international duty with 137 caps and 44 goals over a ten-year span — a legacy that will forever be etched in French soccer history.

Here's France's lineup for the 2025 UEFA Nations League semifinal against Spain!

The confirmed lineups are in!

Here's Spain's starting eleven for the 2025 UEFA Nations League semifinal against France!

Kone arrives late and clips Oyarzabal as the Spanish forward tries to control the ball near midfield. The referee doesn’t hesitate to blow the whistle. Spain will restart with a free kick. Early intensity here in Stuttgart!

The match will be played at Neckarstadion — officially known as MHPArena for sponsorship reasons — a storied venue located in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, and home to Bundesliga side VfB Stuttgart.

The stadium boasts a domestic capacity of 60,058, but for international fixtures like this one, seating is reduced to 54,812 to accommodate media, VIP areas, and security zones.

Here’s how it looks :

English referee Michael Oliver has been tasked to officiate the UEFA Nations League semi-final between France and Spain.

Didier Deschamps can take positives from Oliver’s appointment, considering the Premier League referee officiated the Nations League quarter-finals second leg between France and Croatia.

Stuart Burt and James Mainwaring will be the linemen. Andrew Madley will be the fourth official. Jarred Gillett and Michael Salisbury will act as VAR and AVAR.

Spain vs France will get underway at  3:00 PM ET  (PT: 12:00 PM.)

Watch this 2024-25 UEFA Nations League showdown between Spain and France live in the USA on Fubo, FS1, DirecTV Stream, Sling Blue and ViX. 

Welcome to our live blog of the UEFA Nations League!

Spain take on France in a highly anticipated 2025 UEFA Nations League semifinal, with both teams aiming to book a spot in the final against Portugal. Les Bleus are out for revenge after being eliminated by Spain in last year’s competition, while La Roja look to extend their red-hot form and prove they are among the elite in international soccer.

Stay with us to get the necessary information and fun facts in the preview before we bring you minute-by-minute updates throughout the game!