Spain hold the edge in recent head-to-head records as they have won five of the last seven matches against France. Watch the UEFA Nations League final live!
The UEFA Nations League will crown a new champion Sunday as European superpowers Spain and France battle.
The French men’s national team has won just one of its last seven meetings with Spain and scored only twice in that time.
How to Watch Spain vs. France:
Game Date: Oct. 10, 2021
Game Time: 8:50 a.m. ET
TV: ESPNU
Predicted line-ups
Spain: Unai Simón; Azpilicueta, Laporte, Pau Torres, Alonso: Gavi, Busquets, Koke; Sarabia, Torres, Oyarzabal
France: Lloris; Koundé, Varane, L Hernández; Pavard, Tchouaméni, Pogba, T Hernández; Griezmann; Mbappé, Benzema
Reporters’ views
Graham Hunter, Spain reporter: Spain’s first senior final since UEFA EURO 2012 comes thanks to their most complete, thrilling display since those halcyon days. There are questions to answer, though. Which players are tired after a gargantuan effort against Italy? Gavi, barely 17, was magnificent, but does he start the final? Can Ferran Torres recover from the knocks that forced him off early in the second half?
La Roja’s appetite, ability and faith in Luis Enrique’s playing philosophy make them deserving and attractive finalists.
Goal of the Tournament contender: Watch France’s dramatic winner
David Crossan, France reporter: Against a Spain side that dazzled in the first 45 minutes against Italy, Les Bleus cannot afford to play the way they did in the first half against Belgium. However, should Didier Deschamps’ team carry on where they left off against the Belgians then it’s Spain who will have cause for concern.
Kylian Mbappé, Karim Benzema and Antoine Griezmann have begun to click and that spells danger. Even so, France are still getting accustomed to a 3-4-1-2 system which requires some further balancing, and midfielder N’Golo Kanté’s absence through illness was keenly felt on Thursday.
View from the camps
Luis Enrique, Spain coach: “Look at France’s squad, and their starting XI; they play for top clubs and they are stand-out players: the best squad in the world. The three players they have up front are superb and capable of turning any game. But we won’t change anything about our attitude or our ideas. We played and beat the best team from the EURO and what better now than to play the reigning world champions? I want to win a national title with Spain, that’s something the majority of us have not done. A reminder of how it feels to win a tournament would be good for everyone involved.”
Enrique: ‘We have a real chance’