Another day, another final. Another night to enjoy, and the promise that there will be many more to come. The European champions made their way to Munich where they will defend their Nations League title with a 5-4 victory over France which left something more than just the result in Stuttgart.
It may not be such a leap to imagine that this Spain could match that one; it may not be such a leap to suggest that the 17-year-old they have in their team is not just going to be the best player in the world, he is already is. If this was an audition for the Ballon d’Or, as many said, the award is his.
And the best thing of all is that Lamine Yamal is not alone. In fact, it is worth saying Spain weren’t alone either: France were beaten but played their part in making this so good, starting well, ending well, scoring four of their own and racking up more than 20 shots, all the way to Randal Kolo Muani’s superb header to make it 5-4 in added time, drama to the last. But Spain keeper Unai Simón caught the final ball and ultimately they had been defeated by Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedri, a footballer so smooth it seems easy.
Lamine Yamal scored two here, his every touch a threat, but by the time he did Spain had already scored twice, through Williams and Mikel Merino. They would eventually get five, Pedri adding a lovely fourth between Lamine Yamal’s brace to make it 5-1 with 20 minutes left. They would also concede four, a belter from Ryan Cherki goal and an own goal from Dani Vivian on 79 and 84 minutes making it look like there might even be a comeback when Kolo Muani scored the fourth.
This was fun from the start, the first winding run from Lamine Yamal coming inside 90 seconds, a backheel for Pedro Porro 30 seconds after that and Theo Hernández immediately following up by firing over. It was open and played at pace, the shot count rising almost as swiftly as the players were moving. There were 13 of them within 20 minutes, another one from Hernández clipping the bar, Simón and Mike Maignan both making saves, but no goals.
Not yet, anyway. With the 14th shot, Spain took the lead in the 22nd minute. They did so as France had begun briefly to assert themselves, the balance tilting their way, Désiré Doué and Adrien Rabiot both having decent shooting opportunities. With Spain struggling, Pedri and Merino swapped positions, the Barcelona player dropping a little deeper to try to get hold of the ball and, as it turned out, it did not just serve to get them back in the game; it put them into the lead.
The first prolonged passage of Spanish possession saw the ball worked to Lamine Yamal, who played in a crisp pass through the smallest opening for Oyarzabal on the edge of the six-yard box. Back to goal, he held off Ibrahima Konaté, moved the ball from one foot to the other, and neatly nudged it to his right where Nico Williams was waiting to smash into the net.
Spain added their second just three minutes later and this too was a superb goal, beginning with Robin LeNormand playing out from deep. Again, Oyarzabal’s awareness and subtleness of touch was the pivot on which it turned. Merino received, found Oyarzabal and spun into space; Oyarzabal returned it to him and he finished low into the net.
Spain’s lead was maintained by the strong hand of Simón, who saved from Doué, Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé. Then, just before half-time it appeared to have been extended when a lovely free-kick routine, touched by Pedri, clipped in by Lamine Yamal and set up by Martin Zubimendi’s cushioned header ended with Dean Huijsen’s superb volley. The flag though was up. Almost immediately Dembélé escaped, only for his shot, the 21st of the opening period, to be stopped by Simón.
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On it went, two more French approaches within two minutes of the restart, two low crosses flying through the six-yard box, inviting a touch that never quite came. On Spain went, too. And this is a such an incisive Spain, so quick to go for the throat, to stream into the space as soon as it opens, intent in everything they do.
Williams did so this time, sliding the pass into the run of Lamine Yamal. Rabiot, the man Lamine had enjoyed getting the better of at last summer’s Euros, came to him, invited in. The challenge was clumsy at best and referee Michael Oliver had no doubt. Lamine Yamal gestured for the fans to get to their feet, which they did, then took the ball, and his moment, and rolled the penalty into the corner. Checkmate.
Only Spain weren’t stopping there, they were enjoying it too much. France had barely registered the blow when they were hit again, a gorgeous touch from Pedri seeing him glide into space, find Williams and continue into the area, where he took the return pass and lifted it over Maignan and into the net.
The superiority was overwhelming now, the quality at speed astounding, even if Mbappé did win – now there’s a euphemism – and score a penalty soon after. Even if Dembélé would hit the post. Because if France stepped up, Spain didn’t mind and there was Lamine Yamal again, running on to Porro’s neat volleyed layoff, easing away again and then poking past Maignan.
Still France were not finished, still the fun wasn’t either. But it is Spain who progress. Oh what fun we had.
