France And New-look Spain Well Placed To Progress To Nations League Final

Germany v France

First leg: Friday, Düsseldorf, 4.45pm (all times BST). Second leg; Tuesday, Caen, 8.10pm

“This is going to beryllium a wholly caller game,” Germany’s coach, Christian Wück, told section media earlier this encounter. “We’re not going to deliberation excessively overmuch of nan European Championship quarter-finals.”

It is, however, difficult to judge that Wück and his squad will not beryllium looking to that Euro 2025 last-eight game for some information and inspiration. That lucifer successful Basel was memorable – a 10-player Germany coming from down to hit their aged rivals connected penalties successful a crippled they arguably should ne'er person won but which showed them overmuch astir their character. It led to different reckoning for France, who person consistently fallen short astatine awesome tournaments.

A caller play brings a caller commencement for some arsenic they look to equine a situation to Spain’s Nations League title defence. Laurent Bonadei has nan much unchangeable squad. Although Amel Majri and Sandie Toletti person retired, 19 of his 23 from nan Euros remain. The openings person led to first elder call-ups for Kysha Sylla, Inès Benyahia and Wassa Sangaré, who is impressing connected indebtedness astatine London City Lionesses.

Wück has had overmuch much difficulty, pinch nan Germany squad blighted by injury. Ann-Katrin Berger and Giovanna Hoffmann are out, nan second having ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament. There was much heartbreak this week erstwhile it was confirmed that Lena Oberdorf had sustained a 2nd ACL injury, having returned from nan first only successful August.

Fresh recruits person been summoned. The goalkeepers Laura Dick and Rafaela Borggräfe travel into nan fold pinch Wück declaring nan conflict for nan No 1 garment an “open race”. The defender Camilla Küver has besides received her first call-up alongside West Ham’s Shekiera Martinez.

This semi-final will show america a batch astir wherever some sides are at. France’s mentality was called into mobility and really they respond will beryllium cardinal to knowing wherever their early lies nether Bonadei. They will beryllium flimsy favourites, peculiarly pinch nan 2nd limb astatine home. Germany person learned a batch astir themselves and their resilience successful caller months. Wück will look to build connected these foundations arsenic he enters his 2nd twelvemonth astatine nan helm.

Prediction: France win.

Kysha Sylla, successful possession for Washington Spirit, is 1 of 3 players to gain a call-up to France’s elder squad for their lucifer against Germany. Photograph: Taneen Momeni/SPP/Shutterstock

Spain v Sweden

First leg: Friday, Malaga, 7pm BST. Second leg: Tuesday, Gothenburg, 6pm

When Sweden meet Spain connected Friday, it will awesome nan commencement of caller eras for 2 sides who person undergone important changes since they past took to nan pitch.

As expected, Montse Tomé parted ways pinch La Roja aft defeat by England successful nan Euro 2025 final. Missing retired connected nan 1 trophy to elude Spain wounded and pushed nan Royal Spanish Football Federation to make a decision. There were hopes that it would return a caller guidance aft nan contention of caller years truthful location was sizeable frustration, if small surprise, erstwhile Sonia Bermúdez was instantly named arsenic nan replacement. This is nan first elder managerial domiciled for nan erstwhile Spain international. The 40-year-old has worked wrong nan nationalist strategy since 2022 and is felt to beryllium of nan aforesaid ilk arsenic those who person travel earlier her.

For Sweden, it is nan existent commencement of a caller era. Peter Gerhardsson’s eight-year tenure besides ended aft a nonaccomplishment to nan Lionesses – besides in a shootout – though this handover was planned. Tony Gustavsson, nan erstwhile Australia manager, has taken complete arsenic they look to yet get their hands connected a trophy.

Spain, still hurting from nan disappointment of nan summer, will not surrender their title without a fight. The talent successful their squad is undeniable – a sparkling array of stars including Alexia Putellas, Aitana Bonmatí and Clàudia Pina. Jenni Hermoso has been recalled aft being near retired of nan Euros and nan Barcelona defender Mapí Leon has returned for nan first clip successful 3 years. They are without nan influential Patri Guijarro, however, aft nan influential Barcelona midfielder fractured a foot.

In Sweden, they look a squad who will consciousness they should person achieved more. Gustavsson has near retired six of nan Euro 2025 squad, including nan youngster Ellen Wangerheim and Tottenham’s Amanda Nildén. Rosa Kafaji – impressing connected indebtedness astatine Brighton from Arsenal – has earned a callback alongside Manchester United left-back Anna Sandberg, who has made a good commencement to nan season.

La Roja person won nan past 3 meetings, including nan 2023 World Cup semi-final, but some person developed successful nan past 2 years. It will beryllium fascinating to spot really 2 teams who play very different shot – Spain’s possession-based style versus a much nonstop and transitional Sweden – lucifer up pinch caller managers astatine nan helm.

Prediction: Spain win.

Manchester United’s Anna Sandberg trains pinch Sweden earlier they return connected Euro 2025 runners-up Spain successful Málaga. Photograph: Ludvig Thunman/BILDBYRÅN/Shutterstock

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