After the reversing victory of Portugal against Germany (2-1), the French team crossed the iron with Spain, this Thursday evening, as part of the semi-finals of the League of Nations. Faced with the reigning European champions, Didier Deschamps opted for a 4-2-3-1 with a defense made up of Kalulu, Lenglet, Konaté and Hernandez. In the midfield, Rabiot and Koné accompanied olise while the gifted and Dembélé Parisians supported Mbappé, established at the forefront of the attack. For his part, Luis de la Fuente organized his troops in 4-3-3 with a flashy offensive trio: Mikel Oyarzabal, Nico Williams and the inevitable Lamine Yamal. In Stuttgart's MHPARENA, the two selections were quick to go. Taking advantage of the laxity of the French rear guard, Lamine Yamal triggered the first strike from La Roja but lacked the frame (5th). In the process, the Blues left in counter but Mbappé, served by Dembélé, saw his center towards olise just intercepted (6th).
The defense of the Blues has taken the water
Carried by an attractive collective, France continued its business and passed very close to the opening of the score. On a center behind Dembélé, Rabiot let the leather pass and Hernandez took the opportunity to trigger a heavy strike from the left but the latter struck Simon's left square (12th). Increasingly threatening over the minutes, Didier Deschamps' men were still signaling on the goals of La Roja but Doué rushed to the Spanish porter (17th). Enough to make the European champions react, once again dangerous on a shot of Williams repelled by Maignan (18th). Overall dominating, the Blues were going to be surprised … After a breakthrough of Lamine Yamal, Oyarzabal was found in the area, resisted Konaté and served Williams. Without trembling, the attacker of the Athletic Bilbao shot Maignan at close range and delivered the Roja (1-0, 22nd). Surprised, the Blues were still cracking … Found at 35 meters, Oyarzabal served Merino with a superb lobed pass and the Gunner concluded from a strike from the right (2-0, 25th).
Obliged to react after this double blow of massage, France went back to the attack but gifted then Mbappé fell on a Grand Simon (31st). Candidate for the Ballon d'Or and on a small cloud from the Parisian coronation in the Champions League, Dembélé also tried to bring his stone to the building but the last Spanish bulwark was intractable (37th, 44th). So many spoiled opportunities that France was going to regret a little more. On a free kick quickly played, Yamal found Zubimendi over the defense in the area. This one gave for Huijsen, who offered the third goal to La Roja. A goal ultimately canceled after viewing the images for a slight offside position from the action. Punished by realistic Spaniards, the Blues were rushing at the attack as soon as the locker room returns but still lacked as much realism, like these two fleeting centers of Kalulu and Hernandez who did not find anyone (47th, 49th). And the scenario experienced during the first act was unfortunately repeatedly repeated …
Lamine yamal sparkling, already shiny cherki
Launched in depth, Lamine Yamal was stopped irregularly by Rabiot, guilty of a tackle not mastered in his own surface. Full of composure, the Barça crack transformed the sentence by taking Maignan on the wrong foot (3-0, 54th). An evening that was finally going to turn into a nightmare when Pedri, at the conclusion of a new collective movement in high class, deceived the last tricolor bulwark of a perfect cross strike (4-0, 55th). Plusted by an overly static defense and a generally dominated midfielder, the Blues managed to unlock their counter on a penalty spot. Hanging by porro in the Spanish surface, Mbappé was responsible for restoring a little hope to his own (4-1, 59th). In the process, Doué created him a new thrill in the defense of the Roja but his rolled shot missed out next to the goals of Simon (62nd). For the last half hour, Deschamps launched Gusto, Barcola and Cherki, author of his first selection, but the Calvary of the Blues was not going to stop there. Shifted on the right side, Lamine Yamal was playing Lenglet before deceiving Maignan with a cross shot (5-1, 67th). Ko Standing, the French team was always as imprecise on the outskirts of the opposing surface, like this new strike of Dembélé hitting Simon's post (72nd).
Physically lounge, the Parisian also gave way to Kolo Muani just after yet another missed occasion of Mbappé (76th). From the sidelines, Dembouz would however appreciate the first flash of Cherki in the tricolor jersey. Served by Mbappé at the entrance to the surface, the Lyonnais controlled and followed a splendid volley of the volley, leaving Simon de marble (5-2, 79th). Carried by their entrants, the Blues were even going to give themselves an additional reason to believe it … Found by Cherki on the right side, Gusto focused hard in front of the goal and pushed Dani Vivian to the fault (5-3, 84th). Rebosted, France finished strong but Kolo Muani, found at the entrance to the surface after a superb Rush of Barcola, saw its shot fleeing the frame (87th). The Juve goalscorer was finally going to be rewarded on a center perfectly deposited by Cherki, author of an XXL entrance. From the head, RKM thus offered a completely crazy end of the match (5-4, 90+3rd) but despite a final free kick, France fell. With this spectacular success (5-4), Spain will therefore challenge Portugal in the final this Sunday at 9 p.m. Earlier in the day (3 p.m.), the French team will be opposed to Germany for the third place match.
