Nations League

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.
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SPAIN head to Italy looking to avenge a Euro 2020 semi-final defeat and claim some silverware of their own.La Roja were edged out by the Azzurri on penalties at Wembley after the teams played out a 1-1 draw over 120 minutes.
And they now meet on Italian soil in another semi – that of the Uefa Nations League.
Italy were unbeaten as they topped a group containing Netherlands, Poland and Bosnia back in 2019.
Spain meanwhile clinched top spot with a memorable 6-0 hammering of Germany.

Kick-off: 7.45pm
TV/ live stream: Sky Sports Football
Italy XI: Donnarumma, Di Lorenzo, Verratti, Jorginho, Insigne, Emerson, Chiesa, Barella, Bonucci, Bernardeschi, Bastoni
Spain XI: Unai Simon, Azpilicueta, Pau Torres, Sergio Busquets, Koke, Gavi, Ferran Torres, Alonso, Laporte, Oyarzabal, Sarabia.

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GOODNIGHT
That’s all from us in Milan where Spain have recorded a memorable victory that not only ends Italy’s world record unbeaten run, but takes La Roja soaring into the Nations League final.
The competition has its critics, but try telling the supporters, players and coaching staff of Spain that this was just a glorified friendly. The reaction at full time said it all as the Spanish celebrated a victory that banishes the memories of their European Championship semi-final defeat to the same team earlier in the year.
Luis Enrique’s side will now face the winners of tomorrow’s semi-final between Belgium against France on Sunday evening, and we’ll be right here with live coverage. Can this young Spain side go one step further to claim the second edition of the Nations League? Join us then to find out.
SUPER SUB
There were a number of impressive performances in the Spain ranks this evening including Ferran Torres, Mikel Oyarzabal and Marcos Alonso, not to mention 17-year-old debutant Gavi.
However, it was another teenager, Yeremi Pino, that shone brightest during his second half cameo. The 18-year-old Villarreal forward is certainly one to watch.
Credit: @SofaScoreINT Twitter
FULL TIME STATS
Spain racked up a whopping 815 passes as they dominated Italy in their own backyard, becoming the first side to beat them since September 2018.

FT: ITALY 1-2 SPAIN
After a world record 37 games unbeaten, Italy finally taste defeat and it’s their first on home soil this century. The damage was done in the first half when Ferran Torres converted two delicious Mikel Oyarzabal crosses either side of Leonardo Bonucci’s red card. Spain controlled the second period yet a late Lorenzo Pellegrini goal set up a grandstand finish. La Roja held on though, and will now face the winners of Belgium against France. in Sunday’s final.
PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!SPAIN TRIUMPH AT THE SAN SIRO!
ITALY 1-2 SPAIN
90+6. Calabria clips the set-piece into the area, and, for a split-second, Locatelli looks ready to latch on to the ball.
However, Unai Simon is alert to the danger, and leaps off his line to claim the ball. The Spain goalkeeper holds on to it for dear life, and knows his side are on the verge of a historic win.
ITALY 1-2 SPAIN
90+4. A clash of heads between Kean and Laporte brings the physios on to the field, and may mean the the game is now up.
That said, when both players recover, Italy will have the free-kick approximately 40 yards from goal.
ITALY 1-2 SPAIN
90+2. A sensational challenge from Di Lorenzo keeps Italy in the tie.
The right-back times his tackle inside the box to perfection to deny Gil from laying on a killer goal.
Still they hope.
ITALY 1-2 SPAIN
90. The fourth official’s board goes up to indicate five minutes and that too lifts the home crowd.
ITALY 1-2 SPAIN
89. Oyarzabal clashes with Calabria, and he becomes the latest player to see yellow. I’ve lost count of how many cautions that is now.
It’s amazing we’ve only had the one red.
ITALY 1-2 SPAIN
86. Hopes of the latest Italian attack developing into something sensational are quickly dashed when Chiesa concedes an unnecessary free-kick.
ITALY 1-2 SPAIN
85. The Azzurri are desperately trying to get numbers and the ball forward.
Spain are trying to keep hold of possession, but there is a renewed energy about the Italians. They want to keep their unbeaten run going.
What a finish this is, and it’s one we didn’t expect.
ITALY 1-2 SPAIN
82. Well! Well! Well! Nobody saw this coming!
Italy break out of defence from a Spain corner, and when Yeremi Pino undersells his header back to Pau Torres, Federico Chiesa nips in to leave himself clean through on goal.
The Juventus man does all the running to face up to Unai Simon, but at the last moment lays a pass right to leave Lorenzo Pellegrini with a simple tap in.
The Italians grab the ball and make for the centre circle and, all of a sudden, the San Siro has come to life.
Game on!

GOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAALLLLLL!!LORENZO PELLEGRINI PULLS ONE BACK!!
ITALY 0-2 SPAIN
82. Locatelli goes into the book. The midfielder is penalised for a foul on Yeremi.
ITALY 0-2 SPAIN
79. Wonderful footwork from Yeremi, who glides beyond two Italians on the right.
His cross into Alonso isn’t bad either, and neither is the subsequent save from Donnarumma once the Chelsea man gets his shot away.
Bryan Gil tries to follow up to knock in the loose ball, but desperate defending denies the Spain substitute.

ITALY 0-2 SPAIN
76. Bryan Gil nearly makes an immediate impact but can’t beat Donnarumma to a through ball and Italy survive.
ITALY 0-2 SPAIN
75. A double Spain change will eat up a few more seconds, and interrupt any flow that the Italians are trying to build.
Mikel Merino and Bryan Gil are the players on with Koke and Pablo Sarabia making way.
ITALY 0-2 SPAIN
72. Busquets is caught in possession, and is should spark an Italy chance.
Kean brings play forward to the edge of the area but with options to either side, he overcooks his pass and it allows Spain to fall back into position.
ITALY 0-2 SPAIN
72. A fifth and final substitution for the Italians brings Davide Calabria into the action. The Milan defender is on for Nicolo Barella.
ITALY 0-2 SPAIN
70. Italy haven’t had much experience of losing in the last couple of years, and their behaviour here shows that they’re not very good at it.
Their players react furiously to a 50-50 challenge involving Yeremi and Locatelli, clearly trying to prompt the referee into taking action against the young Spain substitute.
It works too, Yeremi is shown a yellow card.

ITALY 0-2 SPAIN
68. Gavi nearly marks an unforgettable night by weaving his way into the penalty area, only to be unbalanced at the final moment by the experience of strength of Chiellini.
There are half-hearted claims for a spotkick, but there’s really little in the challenge.
ITALY 0-2 SPAIN
66. Italy have made their fourth change, by the way.
Jorginho’s night of scowling at a 17-year-old is over. He is replaced by Lorenzo Pellegrini.
ITALY 0-2 SPAIN
65. Pablo Sarabia is the latest player to go into the book. He catches Chiellini with a high boot.
ITALY 0-2 SPAIN
63. It should be three!
Some superb old-fashioned wingplay from Yeremi, who tricks his way past his man and then crosses from the byline.
Oyarzabal is up highest at the far post to meet, but knocks his header wide of a gaping goal.
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