Nations League | Spain 1-2 France: Comeback Kings strike again
France completed another comeback to beat Spain 2-1 and win the Nations League at San Siro, with Karim Benzema’s curler and a Theo Hernandez assist for Kylian Mbappé.
Italy had secured third place, beating Belgium 2-1 earlier this afternoon. Both sides made two changes from the semi-final, where Spain had seen off 10-man Italy 2-1, while France fought back from 2-0 down to eliminate Belgium 3-2.
Karim Benzema sprung the offside trap on an inspired Paul Pogba through ball, but took one too many touches trying to dribble around Unai Simon and narrowed the angle too much.
Spain began to take control of possession and had penalty appeals waved away, as Jules Koundé charged down a cross with a trailing arm, but it was considered congruous movement.
Raphael Varane limped off just before half-time, but Spain failed to make the most of a Koundé error when Mikel Oyarzabal over-hit the assist for Ferran Torres.
There were practically no real scoring opportunities until a sudden flurry of activity on the hour mark. First, Milan wing-back Theo Hernandez smashed his finish off the underside of the crossbar and it bounced off the ground to go back out.
Moments later, Spain took the lead, as Oyarzabal sprung the offside trap, held off Dayot Upamecano and kept his cool to place an angled drive across Hugo Lloris into the far bottom corner.
They had barely finished celebrating by the time France had equalised, as Karim Benzema cut inside Cesar Azpilicueta and unleashed an unstoppable right-foot curler into the far top corner that even Unai Simon getting his fingertips to couldn’t keep out.
BENZEMA BOUNCES BACK
Watch as Oyarzabal puts Spain 1-0… only for Benzema to equal the scoring minutes after with a moment of brilliance!
Spain 1-1 France
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— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) October 10, 2021
Straight after the game restarted, Kylian Mbappé aimed a lob just over the bar, then scuffed his finish straight at the goalkeeper on Benzema’s pass.
After two wasted chances, Mbappé did strike when he very narrowly sprung the offside trap on an inspired Theo Hernandez assist and swept the finish under Unai Simon. In truth, he would’ve been offside had Eric Garcia not dived onto the through ball and got a touch to it, which automatically put him back in play.
GOAL STANDS
Could that be the winner? Kylian Mbappe finds the back of the net for France with less than ten minutes to play – and it still stands after a VAR review!
Spain 1-2 France
Watch the #UEFANationsLeague Final live on Sky Football and Main Event pic.twitter.com/xKN8SKOOy6
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) October 10, 2021
Oyarzabal thought he’d equalised at the 89th on a Marcos Alonso assist, but his volley was beaten off the line by a one-handed Lloris save. The France goalkeeper made another desperate save deep into stoppages on Yeremi Pino, as Spain’s late siege proved fruitless.
Spain 1-2 France
Oyarzabal 64 (S), Benzema 66 (F), Mbappé 80 (F)
Spain: Unai Simon; Azpilicueta, Eric Garcia, Laporte, Alonso; Gavi (Koke 75), Busquets, Rodri (Pablo Fornals 84); Sarabia (Pino 61), Ferran Torres (Merino 84), Oyarzabal
France: Lloris; Koundé, Varane (Upamecano 43), Kimpembe; Pavard (Dubois 80), Pogba, Tchouameni, Theo Hernandez; Griezmann (Veretout 92); Mbappé, Benzema
Ref: Taylor (ENG)