Spain v France: Nations League semi-final – live

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D.O.O.Mscrolling

“Hi Rob,” says Peter Oh. “France’s front four – Doue, Olise, Ousmane and Mbappe – could spell DOOM for Spain.”

Our inner pedant is screaming that really it should be DODM, but we’ve put an orange ball in his mouth to chew on. DOOM is a lot more fun, although experienced watchers of the French national team will notice the front four also spells MOOD.

“Looking forward to tonight’s entertainment, which I will be able to enjoy on terrestrial telly because I live in France,” says Jeremy Boyce. “However I will have to put up with the comedy-act double commentators who always seem more interested in cracking in-jokes between themselves than actually commenting on the action. That’s France for you.

“Both teams seem to be taking it seriously as regards selection and we’re all going to enjoy seeing the flying yoof on both sides. May the better yoof win.”

Given the nature of our liveblogs, I don’t think I’m in any position to criticise commentators for going off-piste.

He’ll be 18 soon. Where does time go?

Team news: Doue starts

Spain make three changes from the quarter-final over the Netherlands. Pedro Porro, Mikel Merino and Pedri come in for Oscar Mingueza, Fabian Ruiz and Dani Olmo.

While Luis de la Fuente is resting his Champions League winner, Didier Deschamps starts both Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue. There are five changes from their quarter-final against Croatia: Doue, Adrien Rabiot, Pierre Kalulu, Ibrahima Konate and Clement Lenglet replace Bradley Barcola, Aurelien Tchouameni and the injured defensive trio of Jules Kounde, Dayot Upamecano and William Saliba.

Spain (4-3-3) Simon; Porro, Le Normand, Huijsen, Cucurella; Pedri, Zubimendi, Merino; Yamal, Oyarzabal, N Williams.
Substitutes: Raya, Remiro, Cubarsi, Vivian, Morata, Fabian Ruiz, Gavi, Olmo, Mingueza, Pino, Alex Baena, Grimaldo, Isco, Fermin Lopez, Samu.

France (4-2-3-1) Maignan; Kalulu, Konate, Lenglet, T Hernandez; Kone, Rabiot; Dembele, Olise, Doue; Mbappe.
Substitutes: Samba, Chevalier, Pavard, Digne, Bade, Guendouzi, Tchouameni, Thuram, Kolo Muani, Gusto, Zaire-Emery, Barcola, L Hernandez, Cherki.

Referee Michael Oliver (England)

It’s the Euro 2070 semi-final, and Portugal manager Joao Neves has a decision to make up front…

Preamble

Hello and welcome to live coverage of the Ballon d’Or decider between Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembele in Stuttgart. That, at least, is how some people are pitching this Nations League semi-final between Spain and France. It’s a reminder that – despite the best efforts of Paris Saint-Germain and indeed Spain at Euro 2024 -the cult of the individual has never been stronger in football.

That cult began, or at least gathered pace, with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo lording over the sport for the best part of 15 years. Both are still going strongish, and Ronaldo pilfered the headlines with the winner against Germany in last night’s first semi-final.

Portugal’s win means that, whatever happens tonight, Sunday’s final will involve a previous champion. Portugal won the inaugural tournament in 2019, France beat Spain the final in 2021 and Spain overcame Croatia in 2023.

That turned into a useful stepping stone ahead of Euro 2024, a tournament Spain won so magnificently. They beat four former world champions en route, including France in a pulsating semi-final. We could have another thriller tonight. May the best team – italics, bold – win.

Kick off 8pm.