'Genius' Yamal & all-time classic - why Spain are World Cup favourites

Spain and France played retired a Nations League semi-final crippled for nan ages pinch a scoreline that looks for illustration it belongs successful a punishment shootout.

The 5-4 triumph for Spain has everyone wondering if anyone tin extremity these attackers - though nan little said astir nan defenders, nan better.

Spain, who play Portugal successful Sunday's final, are looking for a 3rd Uefa tourney occurrence successful a statement having won nan past Nations League and Euro 2024.

And they are favourites for nan World Cup coming up adjacent summer, pinch France 2nd connected nan list.

Spain showed why they will beryllium reliable to extremity aft 1 of nan astir breathtaking world games successful memory.

A full of 40 shots, 17 connected target, 9 goals. Spain led 4-0 and 5-1 - and threatened to rustle France distant - earlier their rivals rallied.

If only each lucifer was for illustration this.

"It was a crazy game," said Spain goalscorer Mikel Merino. "Not nan champion crippled for nan coaches - cipher wants to concede truthful galore goals - but an astonishing crippled for nan fans."

His leader Luis de la Fuente seemed to really disagree pinch him.

"I'm happy. I bask suffering! I don't understand athletics without suffering," he said.

"When 2 awesome teams look disconnected for illustration today, it's normal each squad makes nan astir of their moments."

Lamine Yamal, who turns 18 later this summer, netted doubly for Spain to cement his credentials arsenic a Ballon d'Or contender.

He is up to six goals for his state now, to adhd to 25 for nine broadside Barcelona.

Yamal impressed much than France's PSG stars - Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue - who were hyped up pre-game aft phenomenal nine seasons.

Les Bleus debutant Rayan Cherki thief spark France's fightback aft coming disconnected nan chair to show why he is being linked to Liverpool and Manchester City.

It would almost return excessively agelong to reside everything that happened successful nan game. But present goes.

Mikel Oyarzabal picked retired Nico Williams to nett Spain's opener, earlier besides mounting up Merino 4 minutes later.

It was almost 3-0 erstwhile Dean Huijsen had a extremity disallowed for offside aft a sensational free-kick routine.

"That belongs successful a musuem," said Prime Video summariser Karen Bardsley.

After nan break Yamal was fouled and scored nan resulting penalty, pinch Williams uncovering Pedri soon aft for their fourth.

Kylian Mbappe netted a punishment to propulsion 1 back, but Yamal bagged his 2nd pinch a good first touch and finish.

"It's difficult to reason pinch nan brilliant that you spot earlier you," said Bardsley connected seeing Yamal flick location his second.

That was 5-1 but past France came back.

Dembele deed nan post, earlier debutant Cherki volleyed successful from nan separator of nan box.

Dani Vivian turned a transverse into his ain nett and past Randal Kolo Muani nodded successful from Cherki's bully ball.

But they could not create different chance successful nan remaining 2 minutes of stoppage clip to unit nan extra-time play each neutral wanted.

After 75 minutes it looked arsenic if nan communicative was going to beryllium astir Spain blowing France distant to cement their spot arsenic favourites to triumph everything going.

They were nan champion broadside by immoderate measurement astatine Euro 2024 and show nary signs of slowing down.

Wingers Yamal, who seems to amended pinch each crippled - which is really to beryllium expected astatine nan property of 17 - and Williams were electric.

Midfielders Merino and Pedri were connected nan scoresheet. Oyarzabal had 2 assists to his name.

Their oldest subordinate was 28, and nan squad had an mean property of 24.

But location will beryllium mobility marks astir a defence that fto successful 4 goals - and a squad who almost blew a 5-1 lead.

Yamal said: "When 2 awesome teams for illustration this play, you sometimes spot a batch of goals. They will make you suffer until nan extremity but we went to nan last contempt nan mistakes we made."

Unai Simon had to make six saves, truthful this was acold from a communicative of an force who scored each shot.

"That was a emblematic Spain performance," said Spanish journalist Guillem Balague.

"These players travel retired connected nan transportation pinch nan emotion they tin hit anyone.

"The absorbing point is they are doing it, winning and creating magic wrong a structure.

"Spain person been playing successful a measurement that represents nan predominant exemplary of our times. Not only are these players intelligent, imaginative but they are committed arsenic well. They activity truthful difficult to get nan shot back.

"Even though astatine nan extremity Spain relaxed, erstwhile you do that you judge you beryllium to nan correct path.

"You person typical players each complete nan parkland and of people nan emotion is much group are watching Spain because its really enjoyable and winning seems to beryllium a habit."

France's attackers were beautiful decent.

Even erstwhile they were getting whacked by Spain earlier nan hour-mark, they were still having plentifulness of chances.

They had much shots than Spain did successful some halves - and much efforts connected target successful total.

Mbappe, speaking to RTVE, said: "We had immoderate bursts of play we haven't had for a agelong time. But successful conscionable 10 minutes of nan first-half, we conceded 2 goals - and nan aforesaid point happened successful nan 2nd half.

"We weren't accordant passim nan 90 minutes, but we did improve. It's not each negative."

PSG's two-goal Champions League last scorer Doue went close, team-mate and Ballon d'Or contender Dembele deed nan station - and Mbappe had chances earlier scoring his penalty.

But 21-year-old Lyon attacker Cherki had a large domiciled aft coming on. His saccharine volley from nan separator of nan container was astir apt nan champion extremity of nan crippled - and his transverse for Kolo Muani to make it 5-4 was inch-perfect.

Again though, for illustration Spain, it was nan defending which was nan issue. Juventus full-back Pierre Kalulu, making his debut connected his 25th birthday, struggled. Clement Lenglet, winning his first headdress since 2021, was caused problems too.

"I'm not present to constituent fingers but I person a backline who are utilized to moving together," said leader Didier Deschamps.

"[This was] astir uncovering different statement who aren't utilized to playing together. I'm not going to springiness up connected this defence. There were mitigating circumstances. But Spain person this capacity to beryllium very efficient. We were capable to people goals too."

Sulaimon Adelekan: This Spain broadside is truthful bully and young, they could norm world shot for nan adjacent six years pinch Yamal, Pedri, Gavi and Nico Williams still yet to peak. They are dismantling and destroying France.

Victor: With nan measurement it's going, this Spanish squad will easy triumph nan adjacent World Cup. There is simply nary request walking to USA.

Robbie: Spain are nan champion squad successful nan world astatine infinitesimal and it's not moreover close.

Nick: Spain astir apt are presently nan champion squad successful nan world, but a full-strength Germany (they were missing Rüdiger, Musiala and Havertz yesterday) are adjacent - they were nan only squad that tin really declare they should person beaten Spain astatine nan Euros pinch nan chances they created - and Argentina are strong, too. I consciousness for illustration France will beryllium unthinkable astatine nan adjacent World Cup - they conscionable request to activity retired what their champion XI is, because they've arguably sewage excessively galore bully players!