Stuttgart, 6 June 2025 (dpa/MIA) - Lamine Yamal scored a brace but Spain almost blew a four-goal lead in a 5-4 victory over France in a thrilling Nations League semi-final on Tuesday.

Spain can now win a third title in as many years in Sunday's final against Portugal in Munich where 17-year-old Yamal will duel with 40-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored Portugal's 2-1 winner against Germany in the other semi on Wednesday.

Nico Williams smashed the opener in the 22nd minute, Mikel Merino drilled the second three minutes later, Yamal converted a penalty in the 54th, Pedri netted a minute later, and Yamal struck again in the 67th for the 2023 Nations League and Euro 2024 champions.

France, who had trailed 4-0 after Pedri's goal, hit back from captain captain Kylian Mbappe in the 59th, also from the spot, Rayan Cherki's sensational volley in the 79th, an own goal by Dani Vivian in the 84th, and Randal Kolo Muani in stoppage time.

France had further chances, as Theo Hernandez hit the crossbar with the score 0-0 and Ousmane Dembele the post later on.

But despite the late nerves La Roja were eventually more efficient as they prevailed like in the Euro 2024 semi-final they won 2-1.

The match was billed as a duel between Ballon d'Or contenders Yamal from Spanish champions Barcelona and Dembele from Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain.

Dembele had scored a hat-trick in Thursday's stadium as PSG won a crucial Champions League group game 4-1 against VfB Stuttgart, but came up empty-handed this time around.

'Crazy game'

"It was a crazy game, great to be part of. We will remember this one for a long time," Merino told streaming portal DAZN.

"We will be fighting for another title, it is an amazing accomplishment. We are looking forward to it. It is not our first final and hopefully we will win it."

Yamal told RTVE: "I hope to bring the cup back to Spain. France are a great team who make you suffer, which is normal. But we're very happy with the victory."

Mbappe said: "We weren't consistent throughout the 90 minutes, but we did improve. It's not all negative.

"We had some bursts of play we haven't had for a long time. But in just ten minutes of the first half, we conceded two goals – and the same thing happened in the second half," he added.

France threaten, Spain score

France had a first chance into an end-to-end game between the last two Nations League champions, but goalkeeper Unai Simon blocked Mbappe's intended cross to the unmarked Michael Olise, and France keeper Mike Maignon stopped a first attempt from Williams.

Hernandez then rattled the crossbar while Maignon denied Williams again but then Spain finally drew first blood.

Mikel Oyarzabal superbly controlled a low cross from Yamal against two French defenders and then flicked the ball on to Williams to smash the opener into the roof of the net.

It was 2-0 three minutes on when Oyarzabal's over the top ball released Merino and the Arsenal man - who had scored Spain's Euro 2024 quarter-final winner against Germany at the same place - beat Maignon into the bottom right corner.

France tried to fight back but were frustrated by Simon while Spain had a sensational third from Dean Huijsen's acrobatic volley disallowed for offside shortly before intermission.

Spain increase lead

France continued their efforts after the break, but dangerous low crosses across the goalmouth from debutant Pierre Kalulu and Hernandez found no team-mate.

it appeared all over for Les Bleus when Adrien Rabiot brought down Yamal, and the youngster calmly sent Maignon the wrong way from the spot.

Pedri chipped the fourth over Maignan into the far corner a minute later, set up nicely by Williams.

Mbappe's penalty after being brought down by Pedro Porro put France on the scoreboard, only for Yamal to poke into the far corner for 5-1 in the 67th.

France fightback

The goal of the game belonged to France when Lyon's Cherki could not quite control a pass from Mbappe but made the most of it by volleying into the left corner from long range.

France were back in the game when Vivian turned a cross from Malo Gusto into his own net with six minutes left, and Kolo Muani's glancing header off Charki drew them within one.

But they then ran out of time to force extra time, and must be content with the match for third place against Germany on Sunday in Stuttgart.

Photo: EPA