Sabasports Match Preview
UEFA Nations League: Spain vs France
Kickoff Time: 2025-06-06 03:00(HKT)
Source:REUTERS/Albert Gea
Spain gets its chance at revenge because this is a rematch of the 2020-2021 UEFA Nations League final, where Spain lost 1-2. Since their exit in the round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup, Spain has undergone reforms and invited Luis de la Fuente, coach of the Spanish U23 national team, to lead the squad. Known as a late bloomer among world-class coaches, De la Fuente boldly brings in new talent, infusing fresh energy into Spanish football. Under his guidance, Spain won the 2022-2023 UEFA Nations League and the 2024 European Championship. Currently, Spain remains undefeated for 18 consecutive games, with their last loss dating back to a friendly match in March 2024. Looking at this period’s roster, Barcelona remains a key contributor, providing six players: defender Pau Cubarsi, midfielders Pedro Gonzalez Lopez, Pablo Fuentes Gonzalez, Ferran Torres, striker Lamine Yamal, and Dani Olmo. Since Barcelona did not participate in the FIFA Club World Cup held in mid-June, these players have no need to hold back. Additionally, the return of Isco, 33, is another highlight. This season, Isco has accumulated over 2,300 minutes of playtime and delivered a double-double performance with 12 goals and 11 assists. Judging from recent matches, Spain’s team operates like a well-oiled machine. Lamine Yamal leads the rhythm with his agile footwork and extraordinary vision, while Dani Olmo and Pedri stabilize the defense and ensure precise passes, making their strong collaboration the foundation for Spain’s smooth offensive organization.
From the UEFA Nations League champion in 2020-2021, to the World Cup runner-up in 2022, and the quarterfinals of the 2024 European Championship, France’s overall results show a downward trend. From this period’s roster, Paris Saint-Germain is the largest contributor of national team players, providing five: defenders Lucas Hernandez, midfielders Warren Zaire-Emery and Matteo Guendouzi, and forwards Bradley Barcola, Ousmane Dembele, and Desire Doue. The inclusion of Matteo Guendouzi is an important highlight of this roster, with his average of 2.3 tackles per game and an 87% passing accuracy perfectly fitting France’s midfield tactical needs. Notably, the inclusion of 23-year-old forward Michael Olise from Bayern is expected to be a wildcard against Spain. He completed 14 successful dribbles in the Bundesliga. However, given that Paris Saint-Germain just finished the Champions League final and is still basking in the joy of victory, they may not be adequately prepared for this match. Even if they play, their state may not be optimal, and it is likely that they will remain absent. Consequently, the intention of French coach Didier Deschamps to transplant the Paris Saint-Germain false nine system may fail, and France’s tactics are likely to undergo further adjustments. Moreover, looking at France’s away performance in the past two years, their defense has not been stable, conceding goals in all six of their recent away matches.
Paris Saint-Germain has long dominated France’s offense, but now facing rotation, a significant reduction in attacking power is inevitable. Spain should not miss the opportunity to secure victory. Expect Spain to finish the job within regular time.
Spain’s Last 5 Games: DDWWW
25-03-24 Spain 2-2 Netherlands (ET 1-1 PEN 5-4)
25-03-21 Netherlands 2-2 Spain
24-11-19 Spain 3-2 Switzerland
24-11-16 Denmark 1-2 Spain
24-10-16 Spain 3-0 Serbia
France’s Last 5 Games: WLWDW
25-03-24 France 2-0 Croatia (ET 0-0 PEN 5-4)
25-03-21 Croatia 2-0 France
24-11-18 Italy 1-3 France
24-11-15 France 0-0 Israel
24-10-15 Belgium 1-2 France
Head To Head Record:
24-07-10 Spain 2-1 France
21-10-11 Spain 1-2 France
17-03-29 France 0-2 Spain
14-09-05 France 1-0 Spain
13-03-27 France 0-1 Spain
Prediction: Spain to win