2025 Nations League: Portugal faces Spain in the final, Germany aims to end well against France
by Thobelani Moyo | by Cydias Aujard
Both Spain and Portugal are one game away from becoming the first nation to secure the Nations League for the second time. However, Euro 2024 champions and last year's Nations League winners, Spain, are on the precipice of making history by securing back-to-back titles.
Meanwhile, the host nation, Germany, are fighting for a third-place finish in the Nations League after suffering a narrow defeat at the hands of Portugal. Standing in their way is the France national team, whose pride was trampled on by Spain in the semi-finals.
Portugal vs Spain: The Iberian Showdown
Portugal, a side led by the evergreen Cristiano Ronaldo, have been doing well on the international stage. Ronaldo led his senior national team to their first final in 2019 when he scored a hat-trick against Switzerland in the semi-final (also the same year they won the Nations League trophy). He was yet again behind the team's success over Germany in the current Nations League semi-final.
Roberto Martinez's men were trailing by one goal against Germany in the first half. However, a second-half resurgence witnessed Francisco Conceicao restore parity in the 63rd minute before Cristiano Ronaldo scored the winning goal five minutes later.
A Selecao das Quinas are in their second final appearance since winning the Nations League trophy in 2019, as mentioned above in the first paragraph. They are aiming to become the first nation to secure two titles in this competition. In addition to that, it'll mark their third major trophy.
The Challengers: Spain
A glimpse of the other end of the pitch are Spain. Despite being a team infested with emerging young talent, they have proven themselves to be a force to be reckoned with on the international stage.
It's crazy knowing that they have secured two major senior titles in three years—first it was the UEFA Nations League title in 2023, and second was the Euro 2024 Championship, in which they defeated England 2-1 on July 14, 2024. The European Championship achievement did not go unnoticed, as it was their record fourth silverware.
Now, in the present, they are one match away from adding another silverware to their trophy cabinet; the 2024-25 UEFA Nations League title. Considering what's at stake, victory over Portugal in the final will be a historic moment for the Spaniards, as they will become the first nation to secure back-to-back titles in this competition.
La Roja are in the Nations League final thanks to their impressive performance against France in the semifinal. In a nine-goal thriller, La Fuente's men emerged 5-4 victors at the MHPArena in Stuttgart. Teenage prodigy Lamine Yamal was the standout performer with two goals and one assist.
Let's check out the recent meetings between the two nations:
| Team | Wins | Draws | Losses | Matches played |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal | 6 | 16 | 18 | 40 |
| Spain | 18 | 16 | 6 | 40 |
Match Details:
- Date: Sunday, June 8, 2025
- Time: 21:00 CET
- Venue: Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany
- Referee: Sandro Scharer
Pride on the Line: Germany and France fight for third place
The host nation, Germany, are filled with disappointment after being eliminated in the Nations League semifinal against Portugal in front of their home crowd. They slumped to a 2-1 defeat at Allianz Arena.
Hopes for a first Nations League title may have gone up in flames, but hands down to their run in this competition, which is their third appearance since their debut in 2018-19.
Reaching the Final Four has been marked down on paper as their best achievement, and a third-place finish could be icing on the cake to ease the disappointment on the faces of their loyal fan base.
The Challengers: France
France had their pride trampled on by Spain in the Nations League semifinal. They were on the wrong side of history books as they conceded five goals in a 5-4 defeat at the MHPArena. The last time Les Bleus lifted the Nations League trophy was in 2021 when they beat Spain. However, this time destiny wasn't on their side.
You will have to go back to 1969 to find the last time they conceded five goals—a 5-0 defeat to England. This third-place playoff is not just another match to them but a chance to restore their pride after that embarrassing display.
Let's check out the recent meetings between the two nations:
| Team | Wins | Draws | Losses | Matches played |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | 12 | 7 | 15 | 34 |
| France | 15 | 7 | 12 | 34 |
Match Details:
- Date: Sunday, June 8, 2025
- Time: 15:00 CET
- Venue: MHPArena, Stuttgart, Germany
- Referee: Ivan Kruzliak
