Barcelona ace, Lamine Yamal, scored a brace as Spain edged France in a nine-goal thriller in Stuttgart to qualify for the UEFA Nations League final, setting up an Iberian derby against Portugal on Sunday in Munich.
In a game of two halves, Spain went into the first half break leading 2-0 thanks to goals by Nico Williams and Mikel Merino within three minutes of each other, while two goals in two minutes by Yamal and Pedri had the defending champions 4-0 up 10 minutes into the second half.
Kylian Mbappe pulled one back for Les Bleus just before the hour mark with a penalty only for Yamal to show grit in keeping Clement Lenglet from getting to the ball before poking it past France goalkeeper Mike Maignan to make it 5-1 after 67 minutes.
Game over? No. Not even nearly over. Manchester City target, Rayan Cherki pulled off a spectacular volley to make it 5-2 after 79 minutes before an own goal by Dani Vivian in the 84th minute brought France within two goals of levelling scores on the night.
Randal Kolo Muani, who had sent a glorious chance over moments before, headed in a cross from Cherki to make it 5-4 in the 93rd minute as France appeared to finally awaken from an hour’s sleep in the match..
Didier Deschamps men tried desperately to force extra time in the closing seconds but Michael Oliver’s full-time whistle ended their hopes of completing an unlikely comeback and sparked celebrations in the Spain camp.