Spain secured a spot in the UEFA Nations League final by beating France 5-4 in a semi-final filled with drama and lots of action throughout. Thanks to goals by Nico Williams, Mikel Merino, Pedri and two from Lamine Yamal, Spain controlled the match with a comfortable 5-1 win and only a late effort by France made the final score 6-4. Although Kylian Mbappé, Rayan Cherki, Randal Kolo Muani and Dani Vivian’s own goal put pressure on Spain, it was not enough to decide the outcome in France’s favour.
France’s Defensive Collapse And Discipline Woes
France’s problems started with a series of errors on defence in the beginning of the game. In the first 25 minutes, France lost two goals and in just 55 minutes, Spain went up 4-0 with two of their goals coming from penalties. Many fouls in vital spots, as well as three yellow cards for Rabiot, Theo Hernández and Kolo Muani, upset the team and allowed Spain to control the game. There were also many missed shots along with scoring chances hitting the post such as Hernández’s initial shot, pointing to difficulties converting in key moments.
Also Read: Cristiano Ronaldo’s Security Breached During Warm-Up Before Germany Vs Portugal Match – Watch
What France Could Have Done Differently
For France to win, its players should defend in unison and stay away from dangerous fouls in the penalty area. If either Theo Hernández or Ousmane Dembélé had managed to score when they were close to scoring earlier, the match could have gone in a different direction. Cherki and Kolo Muani scored in the final minutes, but it was probably not enough. If Barcola and Mbappé had better focus in the core of the game and more accurate shots, they might have regained control before Spain scored too many goals.
Also Read: History Repeats? Barcelona At Risk Of Facing Harsher UEFA Sanctions After 2023 FFP Fine
