Spain vs France LIVE: Nations League result, final score and reaction tonight
Follow all the post-match fallout live from the San Siro in Milan
France won the second ever edition of the Nations League on Sunday evening, coming from behind to beat Spain 2-1 at the San Siro in Milan.
Following Portugal’s triumph against the Netherlands in the inaugural final of the competition in 2019, another heavyweight clash decided this year’s winners, and both the Spanish and French certainly earned their spots in the showpiece match. On Wednesday night, Spain ended the remarkable unbeaten run of European champions Italy for a 2-1 win to avenge their defeat in this summer’s Euro 2020 semi-finals, while France battled from two goals down to overcome Belgium 3-2 in the last minute on Thursday.
Didier Deschamps’ side had to produce another comeback here, too, with Oyarzabal opening the scoring for Spain in the 64th minute, just seconds after Theo Hernandez had hit the crossbar for Les Bleus. The end-to-end action immediately continued, with Karim Benzema curling a stunning finish past Unai Simon from the edge of the Spain box to draw France level. In the 80th minute, Kylian Mbappe sealed the victory for the reigning world champions, a VAR check ruling that the Paris Saint-Germain forward was not offside – despite what many observers thought.
Follow all the fallout from the 2021 Nations League final between Spain and France, below, and read the full match report here.
Spain 0-0 France
39 mins: Torres breaks a tackle and slips in Sarabia after drifting inside, but Varane is there to turn his cross behind. Sarabia’s corner goes straight at Lloris.
There’s a problem for Varane, though, who looked uncomfortable when clearing that last cross from the right. The Manchester United defender is going to be taken off and Dayot Upamecano is being readied. It looks like Varane has pulled something, which will be a worry for any watching United fans as well given their schedule of matches after the international break.
Spain 0-0 France
38 mins: Tchouameni wins the ball back from Gavi and France look to come forward, but Rodri gets back well to challenge Griezmann. Pogba then floats a wall towards Mbappe but it’s collected by Simon.
Spain 0-0 France
36 mins: France were expecting Alonso to cross but the Chelsea wing-back closed his foot on the ball and tried to whip it towards Lloris’ near post. He dragged it a couple of yards wide.
Spain 0-0 France
34 mins: Another burst from Torres inside is brought to an end by Tchouameni, who concedes the foul outside of the box with a sliding challenge. Perhaps fortunate to escape a booking on that one. Torres has been excellent so far. Direct and central to everything for Spain.
Spain 0-0 France
30 mins: France have a chance to counter after Griezmann spins Busquets in midfield, but Spain are able to get back well and Laporte wins the ball back from Mbappe on the right.
There were also appeals for a penalty after a cross from Rodri hit Kounde’s arm as he turned away from the cross. But the VAR has checked it and there will be no further action.
Spain 0-0 France
28 mins: If the two semi-finals were thrillers, the final is much more of a slow-burner. We’re yet to have our first real spark in the contest.
Spain 0-0 France
26 mins: Kimpembe doesn’t look overly comfortable up against Torres. The defender failed to clear a ball in from the right before Torres almost skipped past him, but Kimpembe was able to get a stretched leg to the ball. The corner is cleared at the back post.
Spain 0-0 France
25 mins: France are able to play out of the Spain press and work the ball out to the left to Benzema. He cuts into the box and plays a one-two with Griezmann but his shot is blocked by Azpilicueta.
Spain 0-0 France
22 mins: Spain have had over two thirds of the possession so far but have yet to trouble Lloris in the France goal. The crowd in the San Siro recognise Spain’s dominance of the ball with some ‘oles!’ as the passes rack up.
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