Spain and France face off in a high-stakes UEFA Nations League semifinal, with a spot in the final at stake. The Spain National Football Team Vs France National Football Team Lineups will be closely analyzed as Luis de la Fuente’s team enters without key players like Dani Carvajal and Rodri, while Didier Deschamps must contend with injuries to Jules Kounde, Dayot Upamecano, and William Saliba in his squad. Both teams will look to their available stars and tactical strength to secure a place in the final.
| Rank | Match Date | Competition | Result | Spain Starting Lineup (Key XI) | France Starting Lineup (Key XI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9 July 2024 | UEFA Euro 2024 Semi-Final | Spain 2-1 France | Unai Simón, Jesús Navas, Nacho, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella, Rodri, Fabián Ruiz, Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Nico Williams, Álvaro Morata | Mike Maignan, Jules Koundé, William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano, Theo Hernández, N’Golo Kanté, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Adrien Rabiot, Ousmane Dembélé, Randal Kolo Muani, Kylian Mbappé |
| 2 | 10 October 2021 | UEFA Nations League Final | Spain 1-2 France | Unai Simón, César Azpilicueta, Eric García, Aymeric Laporte, Marcos Alonso, Sergio Busquets, Rodri, Gavi, Mikel Oyarzabal, Pablo Sarabia, Ferran Torres | Hugo Lloris, Jules Koundé, Raphaël Varane, Presnel Kimpembe, Benjamin Pavard, Paul Pogba, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Theo Hernández, Antoine Griezmann, Karim Benzema, Kylian Mbappé |
| 3 | 28 March 2017 | International Friendly | France 0-2 Spain | David de Gea, Dani Carvajal, Sergio Ramos, Gerard Piqué, Jordi Alba, Thiago Alcântara, Andrés Iniesta, David Silva, Isco, Pedro, Álvaro Morata | Hugo Lloris, Djibril Sidibé, Laurent Koscielny, Samuel Umtiti, Benjamin Mendy, Paul Pogba, Adrien Rabiot, Dimitri Payet, Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappé, Olivier Giroud |
| 4 | 4 September 2014 | International Friendly | France 1-0 Spain | Iker Casillas, Dani Carvajal, Sergio Ramos, Raúl Albiol, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, Koke, Cesc Fàbregas, David Silva, Pedro, Diego Costa | Hugo Lloris, Bacary Sagna, Raphaël Varane, Mamadou Sakho, Patrice Evra, Paul Pogba, Blaise Matuidi, Mathieu Valbuena, Karim Benzema, Antoine Griezmann |
| 5 | 26 March 2013 | FIFA World Cup Qualifier | France 0-1 Spain | Victor Valdés, Álvaro Arbeloa, Sergio Ramos, Gerard Piqué, Jordi Alba, Xavi, Xabi Alonso, Andrés Iniesta, David Silva, Pedro, Cesc Fàbregas | Hugo Lloris, Christophe Jallet, Raphaël Varane, Mamadou Sakho, Patrice Evra, Franck Ribéry, Yohan Cabaye, Paul Pogba, Mathieu Valbuena, Karim Benzema, Olivier Giroud |
| 6 | 16 October 2012 | FIFA World Cup Qualifier | Spain 1-1 France | Iker Casillas, Arbeloa, Ramos, Piqué, Jordi Alba, Busquets, Xavi, Xabi Alonso, Iniesta, David Silva, Cesc Fàbregas | Hugo Lloris, Debuchy, Koscielny, Sakho, Evra, Cabaye, Matuidi, Ribéry, Valbuena, Benzema, Ménez |
| 7 | 23 June 2012 | UEFA Euro Quarter-Final | Spain 2-0 France | Iker Casillas, Álvaro Arbeloa, Gerard Piqué, Sergio Ramos, Jordi Alba, Xavi, Sergio Busquets, Xabi Alonso, David Silva, Cesc Fàbregas, Andrés Iniesta | Hugo Lloris, Anthony Réveillère, Adil Rami, Laurent Koscielny, Gaël Clichy, Yann M’Vila, Mathieu Debuchy, Yohan Cabaye, Florent Malouda, Franck Ribéry, Karim Benzema |
| 8 | 3 March 2010 | International Friendly | France 0-2 Spain | Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Carles Puyol, Gerard Piqué, Joan Capdevila, Xavi, Xabi Alonso, Andrés Iniesta, David Silva, Fernando Torres, David Villa | Hugo Lloris, Bacary Sagna, William Gallas, Patrice Evra, Lassana Diarra, Florent Malouda, Franck Ribéry, Yoann Gourcuff, Thierry Henry, Nicolas Anelka |
| 9 | 27 June 2006 | FIFA World Cup Round of 16 | France 3-1 Spain | Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Pablo Ibáñez, Carles Puyol, Mariano Pernía, Xabi Alonso, Marcos Senna, Cesc Fàbregas, Luis García, Fernando Torres, David Villa | Fabien Barthez, Willy Sagnol, Lilian Thuram, William Gallas, Eric Abidal, Patrick Vieira, Zinedine Zidane, Franck Ribéry, Florent Malouda, Thierry Henry, David Trezeguet |
| 10 | 25 June 2000 | UEFA Euro Quarter-Final | France 2-1 Spain | Santiago Cañizares, Míchel Salgado, Fernando Hierro, Abelardo, Sergi Barjuán, Pep Guardiola, Gaizka Mendieta, Juan Carlos Valerón, Alfonso Pérez, Raúl, Fernando Morientes | Fabien Barthez, Lilian Thuram, Laurent Blanc, Marcel Desailly, Bixente Lizarazu, Patrick Vieira, Emmanuel Petit, Zinedine Zidane, Youri Djorkaeff, Thierry Henry, Nicolas Anelka |
Spain
Early in the 1980s, France suffered several defeats at the hands of Spain and West Germany during their preparation matches leading up to the World Cup. Coach Michel Hidalgo instituted major changes by creating what became known as the “magic square”. Jean Tigana, Fernandez, Bernard Lacombe, Didier Six were chosen as members.
Hidalgo utilized this formation throughout the tournament; Tigana and Fernandez played as defensive midfield roles while Giresse Platini supported strikers Giresse Platini supported strikers Giresse Platini supported strikers; France finished third overall while not losing any away matches
Last time these teams played competitively was in the 2025 Nations League final, resulting in a 2-2 tie after extra time and penalties. Luis Enrique has struggled to get his best from his squad since that match; several key players will miss this one due to injury: Rodri (foot), Dani Carvajal (stomach virus), and Marcos Llorente (ankle).
French squad is filled with young, promising talent who have excelled at club level. Players like Ousmane Dembele, Fabian Ruiz, Lucas Hernandez and Warren Zaire-Emery should all play significant roles during this matchup and will add excitement and flair to French attack in front of an expectant stadium audience.
While Spain boasts young talent, fatigue could become an issue. Many of the players set to feature for Spain have also played in the Champions League final, which saw PSG become champions.
Each team will be hoping to secure first place in their group, but only the victor of this match can advance into the knockout stage. Spain currently sits atop Group D with four points and an impressive +4 goal difference; Uruguay sits second with two points and +2 goal differential; both must win this must-win game! Expect an engaging matchup as both sides look to seal their fates on Saturday.
France
The France National Football Team is an association football team representing France internationally in international competition. Based out of Saint-Denis and playing its home matches at Stade de France in Paris, Didier Deschamps has been serving as manager since 2017.
The United Kingdom football team ranks third in FIFA world rankings and competes in the quadrennial UEFA European Championship tournament, held annually to determine Europe’s champion.
Since 1984 they have won two European titles; 1984 for their debut tournament win and 2000 as champion. Furthermore they have competed twice at FIFA Confederations Cups where they have prevailed both times – another testament to their greatness!
France and Portugal share an ancient rivalry due to their geographic proximity and historical ties, meeting regularly at international tournaments including two matches at the FIFA World Cup and boasting an overall head-to-head record of 17 wins, 17 draws and 6 losses between them.
France defeated Portugal 4-3 on penalties to win the 2025 UEFA Nations League final, an important step toward rebuilding their reputation after 2022 World Cup qualifiers marred by controversy and corruption.
Spain has long enjoyed success at the UEFA European Championship, winning six times and making 11 appearances – only Italy, Germany and Spain have more titles at this competition with eight. France took home their inaugural European championship title back in 1960!
Even with their recent struggles, France is expected to make an impressive showing at this summer’s World Cup in Russia. Their attack is led by players such as Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele – two players with excellent ratings in league play this season.
FotMob provides comprehensive coverage of France national football team at this year’s World Cup, from live match updates and roster information, transfer news and fixture lists, as well as detailed performance analytics. FotMob also features players such as Brice Samba from Rennes; Mike Maignan from Milan; Robin Risser from Lens; Lucas Digne (Aston Villa); Malo Gusto from Chelsea;
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| Category | Spain National Football Team 🇪🇸 | France National Football Team 🇫🇷 |
|---|---|---|
| Formation | 4-2-3-1 | 4-3-3 |
| Manager | Luis de la Fuente | Didier Deschamps |
| Goalkeeper | Unai Simón | Mike Maignan |
| Right Back | Jesús Navas | Jules Koundé |
| Centre Back | Nacho Fernández | William Saliba |
| Centre Back | Aymeric Laporte | Dayot Upamecano |
| Left Back | Marc Cucurella | Theo Hernández |
| Defensive Midfield | Rodri | N’Golo Kanté |
| Midfield | Fabián Ruiz | Aurélien Tchouaméni |
| Midfield | Dani Olmo | Adrien Rabiot |
| Right Wing | Lamine Yamal | Ousmane Dembélé |
| Forward | Álvaro Morata | Randal Kolo Muani |
| Left Wing | Nico Williams | Kylian Mbappé |
| Captain | Álvaro Morata | Kylian Mbappé |
| Key Performer | Lamine Yamal (Goal) | Kolo Muani (Goal) |
| Substitute Impact | Dani Olmo scored winning goal | France struggled to find equaliser |
Lineups
Spain and France are two of the premier teams in Europe, yet both will need to prove their mettle when they meet Thursday in the UEFA Nations League semifinal.
The winner of this high-stakes matchup will qualify for the final. Spain are 2024 European champions ranked second globally while they are unbeaten since March; France have only ever won one tournament over the past decade, so both must work on improving overall performance.
Luis de la Fuente will be without Rodri and Dani Carvajal while Didier Deschamps is missing several key defenders, such as Real Madrid’s Eduard Camavinga, Arsenal’s William Saliba, and Bayern Munich’s Dayot Upamecano. However, regardless of these injuries this match promises to be exciting!
Both teams last met at the 2013 FIFA Confederation Cup, in a 3-1 win for Spain. Both also met again for the UEFA Euro 2024 final where Spain defeated Croatia 2-1; currently both teams have four points each but Spain holds the lead with regards to goal difference.
During a semifinal, both teams will attempt to attack with speed and possession. Defenders should remain aware and avoid making costly errors that allow their opponent’s counterattackers an opportunity.
If Spain hopes to come out on top in this match, they must play all 90 minutes and score at least three goals. They must make intelligent defensive decisions while taking full advantage of their speed and technical ability in the attacking zone – being patient in their approach and not making errors during transitional plays.
Spain can reach the Nations League final with a victory against France, who are hungry to get even after losing 2024 European Championships on penalties. Expect an intense clash between these two teams that have much to prove; the winner of this battle will face either Germany or Portugal in the final and if there’s a tie the teams will compete in a penalty shootout to determine who has superiority.
Predictions
Spain boast the quality across their squad to compete with any side in Group H and will likely emerge victorious against Uruguay. They currently sit with four points from two games and can expect an easy route into the knockout rounds should they avoid defeat.
No one doubts Argentina can win the World Cup; their success hinges upon breaking down Uruguay’s stubborn defence. Marcelo Bielsa’s side have had difficulty turning their dominance into goals so far and require big performances from their star players; Federico Valverde will need to drive midfield play while Darwin Nunez and Facundo Pellistri must exploit any space behind their defenses.
Both teams will come into Friday’s match eager to prove themselves, with many hoping that it will be an intense encounter. Spain has held the upper hand thus far in these matches with six wins to their name while three matches were drawn out. A loss for either side would likely end their tournament hopes.
This match will take place at Guadalajara’s Estadio Akron stadium and is set to feature 45,000 spectators. France and Spain have proven their quality so far with both teams winning their respective opening rounds 4-0 against Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde; Spain have maintained clean sheets from both of their matches played so far.
The Spain National Football Team Vs France National Football Team Lineups highlight the strength and history of the Spain national football team, which is part of the Royal Spanish Football Federation and has competed since 1920 in men’s international football competitions.
Over that time, Spain has won major trophies, including European Championships and the FIFA World Cup. The team has featured some of the world’s top players, with a squad built from leading Spanish clubs and several footballers who have achieved success in competitions like the Champions League and Euro Cup.
| Category | Spain National Football Team 🇪🇸 | France National Football Team 🇫🇷 |
|---|---|---|
| Formation | 4-2-3-1 | 4-3-3 |
| Manager | Luis de la Fuente | Didier Deschamps |
| Goalkeeper | Unai Simón | Mike Maignan |
| Right Back | Jesús Navas | Jules Koundé |
| Centre Back | Nacho Fernández | William Saliba |
| Centre Back | Aymeric Laporte | Dayot Upamecano |
| Left Back | Marc Cucurella | Theo Hernández |
| Defensive Midfield | Rodri | N’Golo Kanté |
| Midfield | Fabián Ruiz | Aurélien Tchouaméni |
| Midfield | Dani Olmo | Adrien Rabiot |
| Right Wing | Lamine Yamal | Ousmane Dembélé |
| Forward | Álvaro Morata | Randal Kolo Muani |
| Left Wing | Nico Williams | Kylian Mbappé |
| Captain | Álvaro Morata | Kylian Mbappé |
| Key Performer | Lamine Yamal (Goal) | Kolo Muani (Goal) |
| Substitute Impact | Dani Olmo scored winning goal | France struggled to find equaliser |
