Spain vs France prediction: Who will reach the UEFA Nations League final?
On Thursday, June 5, Spain will face France in the UEFA Nations League semifinal in Stuttgart. I'm offering a prediction on the total number of goals in this match.
Key facts and head-to-head history
- Spain are the current holders of the Nations League trophy.
- France lifted the Nations League title in 2021.
- Spain haven't lost an official match since March 2023.
- France have lost just one of their last seven matches.
- The last time France and Spain met was in the Euro 2024 semifinal, where Spain claimed a 2-1 victory.
- Across 37 meetings in their history, Spain lead the head-to-head with 17 wins to France's 13.
Match preview
Spain come into this clash in sensational form. Luis de la Fuente's side won the European Championship in stunning fashion and went through their Nations League group stage unbeaten, finishing ahead of Denmark, Serbia, and Switzerland. The Spanish stars have enjoyed a fantastic season, especially the Barcelona contingent.
However, Spain came within a whisker of elimination in the Nations League quarterfinals. Away to the Netherlands, La Roja drew 2-2, and the home leg ended with the same score after 90 minutes. Both teams scored again in extra time, but the reigning European champions ultimately triumphed in the penalty shootout.
As for France, they're closing out an era under Didier Deschamps. It's now official that after the 2026 World Cup, the head coach of Les Bleus will step down.
It's clear that the French squad arrives in camp in high spirits, especially the PSG players, who have just won the Champions League for the first time in the club's history. Ousmane Dembélé and Bradley Barcola are expected to emerge as the new attacking leaders for France.
Like Spain, France topped their Nations League group. Deschamps' men finished level on points with Italy but took first place thanks to a better head-to-head record. In the quarterfinals, Les Bleus also advanced via a penalty shootout. After losing 0-2 in Croatia, France fought back to win 2-0 at home and then held their nerve from the spot.
Probable lineups
- Spain: Simón; Porro, Cubarsí, Le Normand, Cucurella; Zubimendi, Pedri; Yamal, Olmo, Nico Williams; Oyarzabal
- France: Maignan; Pavard, Konaté, Lucas Hernandez, Digne; Tchouaméni, Koné, Rabiot; Dembélé, Barcola, Mbappé
Spain vs France match prediction
Both sides are in excellent form, but I expect Spain to take the initiative, with France looking to strike on the counter thanks to their pacey forwards. I'm anticipating an open, high-scoring affair, with both teams likely to score more than two goals in total.
