Spain vs France: Benzema, Mbappe Score as Les Bleus Stage Comeback to Win Nations League

Spain vs France: Benzema, Mbappe Score as Les Bleus Stage Comeback to Win Nations League

Fred Kennedy
updated at April 12, 2023 at 7:48 PM
  • France has become the second winner of the UEFA Nations League after Portugal lifted the trophy two years ago
  • Les Bleues came back from a goal down to defeat Spain in a controversial game played at the San Siro in Italy
  • Real Madrid's Karim Benzema and Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe scored for Didier Deschamps' side to inspire the fightback

France has emerged the winner of the UEFA Nations League following a 2-1 win over Spain in the final played at the San Siro.

Les Bleus had to come from behind again to win the contest just as they did in the semi-final clash with Belgium.

France win UNL
France are the news champions of the UEFA Nations League tournament after beating Spain by 2-1. Photo by Tullio Puglia - UEFA/UEFA
Source: Getty Images

Summary of the game

The first half of the encounter was scoreless with the best chances of the first 45 minutes falling to Karim Benzema and Mikel Oyarzabal.

The second period became more open than the first as Luis Enrique's men took the lead just three minutes after the hour mark.

Benzema's shot rattled the cross-bar at one end of the pitch as Spain made a counter-attack to respond by finding the back of the net at the other.

Dayot Upamecano was unlucky as a through ball which he was meant to intercept bounced off his shin and fell kindly for Oyarzabal who angled his shot into Hugo Lloris left-hand corner to make it 1-0.

Two minutes later the French side responded as Benzema produced a world-class from his right boot as he curled the ball into the top corner to make it 1-1.

Kylian Mbappe scored the winner after he was initially adjudged to be in an offside position as he put the ball past Unai Simon to make it 2-1.

The referee checked the VAR was a few minutes and decided to give the goal after Dani Garcia's foot touched the ball before getting to Mbappe.

Varane suffers injury

Earlier, TUKO.co.ke reported Man United star Raphael Varane could only last for 43 minutes during France's UEFA Nations League final against Spain.

The central defender was off the pitch after hurting his thigh towards the end of the opening half of the encounter.

Les Blues however emerged victorious after beating the Spanish national team 2-1 at the end of regulation period.

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Fred Kennedy
Fred Kennedy has a Bachelor's degree in journalism (Daystar University), currently working as a Sports Editor. He has more than five years of experience in digital journalism.
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