Late drama as Spain reach Nations League final

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Late drama as Spain reach Nations League final

Lamine Yamal scored a brace as Spain reached the Nations League final with an extraordinary 5-4 victory over France, putting them in prime position to seek a third title in as many years.

Nico Williams smashed the opener in the 22nd minute and it was followed three minutes later by Mikel Merino drilling his shot home.

Teenage sensation Yamal then converted a penalty in the 54th, Pedri netted a minute later while Yamal struck again in the 67th for the 2023 Nations League and Euro 2024 champions.

France, who had trailed 4-0 after Pedri’s goal, hit back from captain Kylian Mbappe in the 59th, also from the spot.

Rayan Cherki then scored from a sensational volley in the 79th which was followed by an own goal by Dani Vivian in the 84th.

Randal Kolo Muani scored in stoppage time to reduce the deficit to just one.

The match was billed as a duel between Ballon d’Or contenders Yamal from Spanish champions Barcelona and Ousmane Dembele from Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain.

Dembele had scored a hat-trick in Thursday’s stadium as PSG won a crucial Champions League group game 4-1 against VfB Stuttgart, but came up empty-handed this time around – just like the other PSG players including Desire Doue.

France certainly had further chances, as Theo Hernandez hit the crossbar with the score 0-0 and Dembele the post later on.

But despite the late nerves La Roja were eventually more efficient as they prevailed like in the Euro 2024 semi-final they won 2-1.

Spain will now face Portugal for the trophy on Sunday in Munich, pitting 17-year-old Yamal against 40-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored the 2-1 winner against Germany in the other semi on Wednesday.

Germany and France will play for third place in Stuttgart, also on Sunday.

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