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
48 mins: That was a chance for Spain! Torres is able to turn and suddenly Spain have a three on three. He looks for Oyarzabal on the right but the pass is overhit and the move breaks down. A waste from Torres after finding himself in a promising position.
Spain 0-0 France
47 mins: Busquets gets clattered by Pogba as he stretched to play the ball forward, and the France midfielder picks up a booking early in the second half.
Spain 0-0 France
46 mins: Back underway at the San Siro!
Half time: Spain 0-0 France
The players are in the tunnel and are about to come out for the second half. No changes for either side.
Half time: Spain 0-0 France
This will be a concern for Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Raphael Varane went down with no one near him before being substituted towards the end of the first half. United have matches against Leicester, Atalanta, Liverpool, Tottenham, Atalanta again, and Manchester City after the international window.
Half time: Spain 0-0 France
Nope, this has not been a classic so far. It’s been interesting though, with both teams looking to press the ball high up the pitch and close the ball down in midfield, and it certainly feels like the breakthrough goal will come either through winning the ball back in an advanced area or by playing through the press.
France started reasonably well but then seemed too content to drop when Spain established possession. Spain have played some nice football, with their play coming almost exclusively through Torres on the right, but have lacked a threat.
Spain 0-0 France
45+1 mins: A loose touch from Pogba almost sees Oyarzabal played through on goal, but Kounde recovers along with Upamecano and the space is quickly closed out.
Spain 0-0 France
44 mins: Spain come forward through Azpilicueta but Benzema gets back well to deny Torres on the right.
There will be two minutes added on.
Spain 0-0 France
42 mins: Upamecano is on and slots into the middle of France’s back three.
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