FRANCE won their first ever Nations League with a 2-1 victory over Spain thanks to goals from Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappe after Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring in Milan.
- RESULT: Spain 1-2 France
- Spain XI: Simon, Azpilicueta, Garcia, Laporte, Alonso, Busquets, Rodri, Gavi, Sarabia, Oyarzabal, F Torres
- France XI: Lloris, Pavard, Kounde, Varana, Kimpembe, Hernandex, Pogba, Tchouameni, Greizmann, Benzema, Mbappe
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GOODBYE
The night belongs to France – and so too does the Nations League trophy.
For the second time in four days, Didier Deschamps side showed that they have the fighting spirit to match their talent as Les Bleus came from behind to win once again.
A stunner from Karim Benzema and a contentious Kylian Mbappe strike quickly cancelled out Mikel Oyarzabal’s opener and ensured that it’s France, and not Spain, that are the first country to have won the World Cup, European Championships and Nations League.
That’s all for this year’s edition of the UEFA’s newest international competition, and that’s all from us for this evening. Thanks for being with us, and goodnight.
FRANCE UN-PHASED
Debate is raging on television and across social media in regards to Kylian Mbappe’s winning goal this evening.
The French striker was clearly in an offside position when Theo Hernandez slipped his pass through the Spanish defence.
However, in his attempt to cut it out before it reached Mbappe, defender Eric Garcia touched the ball on to which deemed to start a second phase with Mbappe onside.
The VAR officials applied the rules and the goal stood. It just might be that that those rules need fixing.
BRILLIANT BLEUS
Ignoring penalty shootouts, France are now unbeaten in 25 competitive matches.
In emerging victorious this evening, they also become the first country to have won the World Cup, the European Championships and the Nations League.
Credit: @OptaJean Twitter
FULL TIME STATS
This Nations League final exploded into life in the second half with 20 attempts at goal registered after they break in contrast to just three in the first period.
Credit: UEFA.Com PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
IT’S ALL OVER!
FRANCE WIN THE NATIONS LEAGUE!SPAIN 1-2 FRANCE
90+4. Spain win a corner, and up comes Unai Simon.
The goalkeeper gets a touch on Fornals’ delivery too, helping it to fall for Yeremi at the far post. The substitute pings his shot goalwards through a crowd of players and it could end up anywhere. There’s momentary hope until Hugo Lloris comes to France’s rescue with another big save!
SPAIN 1-2 FRANCE
90+2. Griezmann’s 100th appearance for France comes to an end. It hasn’t been his most fruitful personally, but looks set to end in silverware.
Jordan Veretout replaces him.
SPAIN 1-2 FRANCE
90. Spain have five minutes to rescue this Nations League final.
SPAIN 1-2 FRANCE
89. Straight up the other end, and Mbappe almost seals it.
Benzema finds his strike partner all alone on the right of the area, but this time the PSG forward can’t squeeze his shot beyond Unai Simon.
SPAIN 1-2 FRANCE
88. Huge save from Hugo Lloris!
The French captain shows his worth when it’s needed most, denying Oyarzabal an equaliser with a one-handed stop to keep out his thumping volley.
SPAIN 1-2 FRANCE
86. Aymeric Laporte picks up a yellow card on his first encounter with France for catching Leo Dubois.
SPAIN 1-2 FRANCE
84. Luis Enrique has the dice out and rolls a double.
Pablo Fornals and Mikel Merino are on; off go Ferran Torres and Rodri.
SPAIN 1-2 FRANCE
82. The Spanish don’t quite know how this final has slipped away from them. It seems a long time ago since Oyarzabal fired them ahead.
SPAIN 1-2 FRANCE
80. France lead! Or do they?
Kylian Mbappe breaks beyond the Spain defence and slides a left-footer underneath Unai Simon, but the Spanish players are convinced he is offside.
While Mbappe and his teammates celebrate, those in red implore Anthony Taylor to consult VAR – as if that isn’t an immediate occurrence anyway.
The replays show that Mbappe does indeed look in an offside decision, but the last touch on the pass through seems to have come off Eric Garcia.
After a nervous wait, the goal stands! France have come from behind again!
GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLL!!
KYLIAN MBAPPE SCORES FOR FRANCE!!
SPAIN 1-1 FRANCE
77. Yeremi shows off some of his skills inside the box, but his shot clatters into the nearest defender.
SPAIN 1-1 FRANCE
76. Pogba goes for goal to no avail. The French midfielder would be a fitting choice to settle this encounter.
SPAIN 1-1 FRANCE
75. Another Spain change that sees Gavi withdrawn. It won’t be the last we see of Barcelona’s latest teenage sensation.
On comes Koke.
SPAIN 1-1 FRANCE
72. This is finally the final we had hoped for, and it’s one that either side could win.
Rodri tries his luck with a long-ranger that crashes into Kimpembe and drops behind for a corner.
SPAIN 1-1 FRANCE
69. Out of nowhere, this game has burst into life and now it’s all action.
France’s tails are up after their instant response, and almost grab a quickfire second, first through Mbappe’s lob and then Pogba’s header.
SPAIN 1-1 FRANCE
66. What a goal! What a response!
Straight from France’s kick-off, Paul Pogba strides forward in possession and picks out Kylian Mbappe. The forward quickly moves play on to Karim Benzema on the left flank, but the striker has little support in attack.
It turns out though, he doesn’t need it. Taking a couple of touches to set himself on the corner of the penalty area, Benzema shifts the ball on to his right foot and then unleashes an incredible curling effort into the top far corner, beyond the outstretched arm of Unai Simon.
An absolutely sensational goal.
GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLL!!
BRILLIANT FROM KARIM BENZEMA!!SPAIN 1-0 FRANCE
64. Seconds after Theo Hernandez has crashed against the crossbar at one end, Mikel Oyarzabal scores at the other!
The Spanish forward never looked in control of Sergio Busquets’ pass forward, but somehow managed to bundle his way beyond Dayot Upamecano to move inside the left of the penalty area.
If the build-up was unconvincing though, there was nothing questionable about the finish. The Real Sociedad forward looked up and slammed a left-footed effort across Hugo Lloris and into the far corner.
First blood to Spain!
GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLL!!
MIKEL OYARZABAL BREAKS THE DEADLOCK!!SPAIN 0-0 FRANCE
63. CROSSBAR! Theo Hernandez is so close to adding to his semi-final heroics!
Pogba sparks the attack, driving powerfully through the midfield, and then finds Benzema on the left. The striker’s cross picks out the arriving Hernandez at the near post, who connects with a snapshot that clatters the underside of the bar before coming out again.
So close.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
