Spain booked their spot in the UEFA Nations League final with a thrilling 5-4 win over France on Thursday evening.
Lamine Yamal, Pedri, and new Real Madrid signing Dean Huijsen headlined La Roja's starting line-up, while Kylian Mbappe, Desire Doue and Ousmane Dembele lined out as the key men for Les Bleus.
Les Bleus fancied the opener in the 13th minute through a stomping effort by Theo Hernandez following a dummy by Adrien Rabiot, but he struck the upright.
The missed chance wouldn’t go unpunished as La Roja hit the front ten minutes later through a smart finish from the area by Nico Williams.
France were undone again moments later when more uncertain defending allowed Mikel Oyarzabal space to tee-up Mikel Merino for a stern finish past goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
Spain looked to have added a third goal a minute to halftime when Huijsen volleyed in from the area from a layoff by Martin Zubimendi, but it was fractionally offside.
In the second half, the one-way traffic continued as the host grabbed a third goal when Yamal finished off from the penalty spot after he was brought down by Adrien Rabiot.
The onslaught on the French remained ten minutes from the break after Williams thread Pedri in from a tight angle in the area and the star midfielder finished with aplomb.
France pulled one goal back five minutes later when captain Mbappe lined-up from the penalty spot following a foul by Pedri and tucked in.
Spain continued to pull clear three minutes later as Yamal made a clever run to the area to get on Pedro Porro’s pass and fired beyond the diving Maignan.
Les Bleus remained alive around the closing ten minutes and saw substitute Rayan Cherki connect perfectly with Mbappe before finding the back of the net with a wonderful volley on his senior debut.
The French added a third goal minutes later when Dani Vivian fired into his own net after he attempted to make a defensive clearance.
France set-up a nervy end for the host as Randal Kolo Muani got on the end of a cross from Cherki in stoppage time and bundled home, but the goal came too late as Spain held on for thrilling and will now face Portugal in the final on Sunday.
