France wins the second edition of the UEFA Nations League
Kylian Mbappe fired a controversial winner as France came from behind to beat Spain and become the second team to win the Nations League after inaugural winners Portugal in 2019.
Mbappe was declared to be offside when he slid the ball under Unai Simon after Karim Benzema’s stunning equaliser minutes after Oyarzabal’s goal at the San Siro in Milan.
Lloris produced two late saves to ensure victory for the world champions. He first denied Oyarzabal before acrobatically keeping out Yeremi Pino’s effort in stoppage time, as France became the competition’s second winner after Portugal in 2019.
But Mbappe’s winner will prove to be a moment of debate, with the goal standing even though the Paris St-Germain striker was in an offside position when Theo Hernandez played the initial through ball.
Spain defender Eric Garcia touched the ball in his attempt to clear the danger before it came to Mbappe, and the rules state “a player in an offside position receiving the ball from an opponent who deliberately plays the ball… is not considered to have gained an advantage”.
France now is the only European team to win the FIFA World Cup in 1998 and 2018, the UEFA Euros in 1984 and 2000 and the UEFA Nations League in 2021.
