UEFA Nations League Final Four Preview | Spain vs France | OneFootball

2023 UEFA Nations League winners Spain take on 2021 champions France in Thursday’s semi-final with one nation set to play either Germany or Portugal in Sunday’s final. Luis de la Fuente’s La Roja come into this game in excellent form, not losing a game since March 2024 a run of 15 wins and three draws, including a European Championship after beating England 2-1 in the final.

Spain were also victors over France at Euro 2024 with goals from Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo cancelling out Randal Kolo Muani’s opener in the semi-final. Just like in July, La Roja’s front three should consist of Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams and Alvaro Morata. In midfield, Fabian Ruiz’ exploits in PSG’s Champions League win against Inter at the weekend will likely see him on the bench, with Gavi coming in alongside Martin Zubimendi and Pedri.

Like Ruiz, France Benjamin Pavard, Lucas Hernandez, Warren Zaïre-Emery, Ousmane Dembélé, Marcus Thuram and Bradley Barcola all featured in the Champions League final, and so Didier Deschamps has a decision to make surrounding the player’s fitness.

France come into this game with three defeats in their last nine games across all competitions, and it could be a final opportunity for Deschamps to lift a trophy after he announced that he would step down after the 2026 World Cup.

Deschamps and France will be looking to exact revenge on Spain for their loss in the Euro 2024 semi-final.

Spain vs France Predicted XIs

Spain: Simon – Porro, Cubarsi, Le Normand, Cucurella – Zubimendi, Gavi, Pedri – Yamal, Williams, Morata

France: Maignan – Gusto, Konaté, Lenglet, Digne – Tchouaméni, Koné, Rabiot – Olise, Kolo Muani, Mbappé

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