France, the world champion, will face Spain in the UEFA Nations League final at San Siro tomorrow, Sunday. Below are the five key points regarding the match.
**Can Spain Stop France's Attack Trio?**
It is hard to think of a team with a more potent attacking lineup than France's trio of Kylian Mbappé, Karim Benzema, and Antoine Griezmann, and Spain will need to find a way to neutralize them. In the semifinals against Belgium on Thursday, Mbappé and Benzema formed a cooperative duo, regularly looking for each other, while Griezmann played flexibly behind them. The Spanish defense managed well against Italy's attack in the semifinals, but Mbappé's speed, Benzema's ferocity in front of goal, and Griezmann's skills present a different challenge. It is expected that Aymeric Laporte, born in France, will play alongside Pau Torres at the heart of Spain's defense, and it will be interesting to see what tactical adjustments coach Luis Enrique makes to confront any challenges posed by Didier Deschamps.
**Spain's Arsenal**
Mikel Oyarzabal and Pablo Sarabia caused countless problems for Italy’s defense with their speed and skill, and alongside striker Ferran Torres, they form Spain's most threatening weapons. Luis Enrique will hope for a repeat of their strong performances. France's full-backs, Benjamin Pavard and Theo Hernandez, have been pushing forward and providing excellent attacking support, with Pavard even assisting Hernandez's last-minute goal in the win at Juventus Stadium. Will Deschamps ask them to maintain the same attacking depth while monitoring Spain’s wingers, or will he expect the defensive trio to take on primary roles? If he opts for the latter, he will likely deploy Lucas Hernandez on the left of a three-man defense, with Jules Koundé on the right and Raphael Varane in the center.
**How Much Will Kante's Absence Impact?**
French midfielder N'Golo Kanté is arguably the best defensive midfielder in the world, and his absence due to a COVID-19 infection will clearly weaken this area. Paul Pogba and Adrien Rabiot fared well against Belgium, but Spain's passing style will test their defensive discipline, making it crucial not to leave spaces.
**Will the Wonder Kid Shine Again?**
Gavi (17 years old) had a standout performance in his first match with Spain, being one of the impressive highlights in the semifinal victory. Despite having only started three matches for his club, he exhibited the composure of a seasoned player. Will Luis Enrique allow the youngest international player in his country’s history to start the final? If he decides so, will he play as calmly as he did against Italy? If the Spanish coach prefers a more conservative approach, he might opt for Rodri, the defensive midfielder from Manchester City.
**Is Torres a Threat?**
Although he is not a conventional striker, Ferran Torres assumed that role against Italy and scored two winning goals. Torres, usually identified as a winger,played in the center forward position under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City and has gradually adapted to this role. However, he will face one of the best defenders in Varane, as France hopes to avoid his incisive strikes in front of goal.
