Lamine Yamal scored twice as Spain delivered a brilliant performance to defeat France in a dramatic nine-goal encounter, securing a place in the Nations League final against Portugal.

The 17-year-old Barcelona sensation—widely considered a frontrunner for this season’s Ballon d’Or—played a key role as Spain surged to commanding 4-0 and 5-1 leads in Stuttgart.

France mounted a thrilling late fightback, scoring three goals in the final 11 minutes in a bid to force extra time, but Spain held firm to book their spot in Sunday’s final in Munich. France will now face Germany in the third-place play-off in Stuttgart.

Spain initially went 2-0 up with goals from Nico Williams and Mikel Merino. Yamal then won a penalty after being fouled by Adrien Rabiot and confidently converted it, sending Mike Maignan the wrong way. Pedri extended the lead to 4-0 after finishing a pass from Williams, before Kylian Mbappé pulled one back for France from the penalty spot after a foul by Pedro Porro.

Yamal then netted his second goal of the night with a precise low shot to make it 5-1, seemingly sealing the match.

However, debutant Rayan Cherki ignited France’s late surge with a spectacular 20-yard volley from an Mbappé assist, reducing the deficit to 5-2. An own goal by Dani Vivian and a stoppage-time header from Randal Kolo Muani off a Cherki cross made it 5-4, but France couldn’t find a fifth goal to equalize.

Spain will now meet Portugal in a highly anticipated final, with both nations aiming to lift the Nations League trophy for the second time. Spain were champions in 2023, Portugal in 2019, and France in 2021.

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