France secured a 2-1 victory against Spain in the Nations League final in Milan, claiming their first title in the competition's history. The win was sealed by a late strike from Kylian Mbappe, whose performance served as a redemption arc. Only a few months prior, Mbappe had been struggling with the psychological weight of a missed penalty at Euro 2020 and a chaotic transfer saga involving PSG.
Mbappe once again proved his worth in Milan, scoring a spectacular winning goal after a powerful run. This victory allows France, who hoisted the World Cup trophy three years ago, to add the Nations League title to their prestigious collection of honors.
Early in the match, Benzema nearly opened the scoring. Just six minutes in, he managed to get around keeper Simon, but he was forced wide and had to settle for crossing the ball. Spain's Cesar Azpilicueta, one of five Premier League representatives in their starting eleven, was positioned well to intercept and clear the threat.
Despite an ankle issue, Ferran Torres started on the right wing following his standout performance against Italy. In the midfield, the young Gavi continued to feature, though he nearly picked up a booking for a late tackle on Aurelien Tchouameni. Additionally, Monaco's midfielder was brought into the squad to fill the void left by Adrien Rabiot, who missed the match due to a positive Covid-19 test.
Covid-19 before the game Monaco midfielder called in to replace him.
The first half was a tactical battle, with Spain dominating possession and keeping France under pressure. The Spanish side took a surprising lead through Oyarzabal. Meanwhile, Antoine Griezmann celebrated a massive milestone, earning his 100th cap—a feat that places him among football's elite, especially considering he has played in 57 consecutive international matches.
Manager Didier Deschamps, who has 103 caps himself, leaned heavily on Griezmann's tactical awareness. Griezmann spent much of the first half tracking back, which was essential in disrupting Spain's rhythmic passing. The deadlock was eventually broken when Benzema scored a stunning equalizer with a powerful right-footed strike.
The match's climax came in the second half with a clever finish that caught the Spanish defense completely off guard. While Spain argued the goal was offside and surrounded referee Antony, VAR confirmed the score. With this win, France makes history as the first country to win the World Cup, the Euros, and the Nations League.