Spain's Old Ailments Atop France's Defense Crisis

STUTTGART, THURSDAY — The loss of three key defenders has had a significant impact on the French national team. Spain capitalized on this major gap to advance to the UEFA Nations League final for the third consecutive time. Spain's "wonder boy," Lamine Yamal, has also solidified his name as a strong candidate for the Ballon d'Or.

As if in vain, the sparks of revival inspired by French megastar striker Kylian Mbappe in the last half hour were not enough. The four goals from the team coached by Didier Deschamps were insufficient to repair the damage in defense during the first hour of the match. They once again failed to reach the final after winning in 2021.

Spain escaped from an intense semifinal drama and advanced to the final after winning 5-4 against France at the Mercedes-Benz Arena Stadium, Stuttgart, Germany, on Friday (6/6/2025) early morning WIB. Yamal and his teammates could have easily concluded the match after taking a 4-0 lead, but they lost their focus.

"France is a great team that can make you suffer. That (surprise from them) is normal. Regardless of that, we are very happy with this victory. I hope to bring the trophy back to Spain (this weekend)," said Yamal, who contributed a pair of goals and was named the best player.

France struggled significantly without their three main defenders, namely Dayot Upamecano, Jules Kounde, and William Saliba, who were absent due to injuries. They were replaced by Clement Lenglet, Ibrahima Konate, and Pierre Kalulu. The quality difference between the starting players and the substitutes proved to be too stark in the match. Spain was able to take advantage of this.

Spain was already leading by two goals in the 25th minute. They scored a pair of goals within a span of three minutes. The French defense did not learn from their mistakes. Both goals originated from the actions of the "Matador" team's forward, Mikel Oyarzabal, who acted as a "wall" to provide assists to Nico Williams and Mikel Merino.

The distance between the French defenders is very wide. Support from the midfield is also minimal. The problem for "Les Bleus" is very apparent during the moments of counter-attack, especially after they make mistakes in their own half. They struggle to withstand the quick attacks from Spain led by Yamal.

The problem of transition was clearly evident after the halftime break. They conceded three more goals within the first 22 minutes of the second half. Yamal contributed a pair of goals through two individual actions. The first action resulted in a penalty that he executed himself, and the other came directly from open play. Pedri also added to Spain's lead.

According to Lenglet, significant changes in defense have hindered the cohesion among players. They easily lose concentration, especially after conceding a goal. "At this level, when you cannot maintain concentration and keep your guard, they will punish you," said the defender who plays for the Spanish club Atletico Madrid.

Yamal, with two goals, has firmly established himself as a strong candidate for the individual award of the Ballon d'Or. His strong competitor, Ousmane Dembele, was unable to make a significant impact throughout the match. Dembele ended the game in the 76th minute, substituted by Randal Kolo Muani, without any contributions in terms of goals or assists.

France showcased the duo of Paris Saint-Germain that shone in the Champions League final last weekend, namely Dembele and Desire Doue. However, their roles were different compared to those at the club. Dembele did not play in his best position, center forward, due to the presence of Mbappe.

In the Champions League, Dembele and Doue often exchanged positions to occupy the central area. Both were primarily positioned on the wings today, with Dembele on the right and Doue on the left. As a result, the combination of this PSG duo and the French attack became more predictable. There was no sign of a "fluid" attack, as had successfully dismantled Inter Milan.

Spain has been plagued by an old ailment that emerged during the quarter-finals against the Netherlands. They often lose concentration after taking an early lead. In the two quarter-final matches, Luis de la Fuente's team managed to lose their advantageous position four times against the Netherlands.

The concentration problem nearly cost the "Matador" team dearly. Spain appeared to be doing well until the last 15 minutes, still leading 5-1. Their only concession came from a penalty by Mbappe. However, Spain experienced a moment of panic after the goal from French substitute Rayan Cherki in the 79th minute.

Spain's decline was due to Fuente's massive substitutions, including swapping defender Robin Le Normand for Dani Vivian. After Cherki's goal, it was Vivian's turn to score an own goal. Muani reduced the gap to one goal in injury time, but time was running out to equalize.

Pedri stated that they must improve in managing tension after taking the lead. This must be done if they wish to return home with the trophy. "We never imagined a match (as dramatic) as this. We did not dominate the game as desired, but we played effectively," he said.

Spain, the defending champion of the Nations League, will have the opportunity to defend its title this weekend. They are set to face Portugal, which advanced to the final by eliminating the host nation, Germany. The final match will feature two winning teams. Portugal was the champion in the inaugural edition of the Nations League. (AP/REUTERS)