Spain 1-2 France: Player ratings as Les Bleus snatch Nations League glory

 

A late strike from Kylian Mbappe saw France come from behind to beat Spain and seal the 2020/21 Nations League crown at San Siro on Sunday night.

The first half passed with little incident. While Spain dominated possession, France had the best half-chance as Karim Benzema latched onto Paul Pogba's fine through ball before rounding Unai Simon in the Spain goal. However, the angle closed and he was unable to get an effort on target.

The match continued as a tactical battle following the break before springing into life shortly after the hour mark.

First, France wing-back Theo Hernandez popped up in the opposition penalty area and fired a good effort against the bar. Spain broke, with Sergio Busquets clipping a fine long ball into Mikel Oyarzabal, who held off substitute Dayot Upamecano and found the bottom corner with a pinpoint finish across Hugo Lloris.

However, the lead lasted barely two minutes, as France attacked straight from the restart and Benzema produced a wonderful, arcing finish into the top corner - despite Unai Simon's fingertips. Les Bleus were in the ascendancy, with Mbappe spurning a half-chance soon afterwards.

With ten minutes remaining the former prodigy made amends, running onto Hernandez's pass, throwing a stepover and slotting the ball under Simon. Replays seemed to show the Paris Saint-Germain forward was offside, but the goal somehow survived a VAR check.

Oyarzabal, Mbappe and Pablo Fornals all missed opportunities in the frantic last knockings of the game, but France held on to win the Nations League.

Here's how the players rated...