Spain's lineup against France in the Nations League today

Under Luis de la Fuente, the national team has lifted a title each year : the UEFA Nations League in 2023, the European Championship in 2024, and now, at the beginning of June 2025, they are once again seeking another UEFA Nations League trophy. The Riojan was appointed coach after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, a championship managed by Luis Enrique, and Spain has won everything since then. Almost a year after their last triumph, they can repeat their success in Germany .

Spain has had a brilliant run so far in this fourth edition of the Nations League , the tournament created by UEFA seven years ago with the aim of allowing national teams to play more competitive matches against other teams of a similar level, thereby eliminating friendlies from an already packed schedule. Therefore, the national team has so far faced rivals from the likes of Serbia, Switzerland, Denmark, and the Netherlands, all of whom are regulars in the final stages of international tournaments. And now they're doing the same against France in the semi-finals .

The Nations League is being held, as usual, in a Final Four format with two venues in the same country that are not separated by too many kilometers. However, this year UEFA has deviated from this tradition, with the distance between Munich and Stuttgart being almost 220 km, the latter being where Spain faces France this Thursday (9:00 PM).

The final will be held in Munich this Sunday (9:00 PM), the city where Spain and France last met in the semi-finals of Euro 2024. Goals from Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo helped Spain cancel out Kolo Muani's goal and give Luis de la Fuente's team a place in the final. A number of players remain under the coach's command for that clash, although there are some absences, particularly in defense .

For example, neither of the two right-backs called up for last year's European Championship are available, albeit for opposite reasons. Jesús Navas hung up his boots at the end of 2024, and Dani Carvajal suffered a serious injury in October. Nacho and Laporte played in central defense against France last year, but the former Real Madrid player disappeared from De la Fuente's plans with his move to Saudi Arabia, and the Frenchman who became a Spanish citizen has even lost his place at Al-Nassr.

Another notable absence is Ballon d'Or winner Rodri Hernández , who has returned to action with Manchester City in recent weeks after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee (with meniscus damage) at the start of the season. Despite Guardiola giving him minutes in the final stretch of the season, due to his lack of rhythm and playing time, De la Fuente has decided to leave him out .