PREVIEW | The excitement of continuing to make history

This is certainly not just another match. Not with this opponent, this venue, or what’s at stake.

Spain and France face each other this 5th of June in Stuttgart, the home of the famous Porsche and Mercedes-Benz cars, in the second semi-final of the UEFA Nations League, a tournament in which they are the reigning champions. And a tournament that, as Luis de la Fuente said in the press conference, “is synonymous with spectacle and motivation”.

The Spanish team has made it this far after staying unbeaten in the group stage and overcoming the Netherlands in the quarter-finals.

Tonight’s fixture is a true classic, a clash of giants with more than a century of history of footballing rivalry. Two teams that have both been champions of Europe and the world, who have faced each other 37 times, the last time being right here, in Germany, in the semi-finals of the last summer’s continental tournament. That day, Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo sealed a place in the grand final with their goals after a spectacular team performance (2-1). A success they’re looking to repeat this summer too.

Historically we have seen 17 victories for Spain, 13 for France, and 7 draws

This time feels extra special because of the excitement, the desire, and the motivation. Because more than 8,000 Spaniards will be cheering from the stands. Because if he plays, it would be Unai Simón’s 50th match as an international; if he scores, Álvaro Morata would equal Fernando Torres as the third top scorer in history (38); and if they win—most importantly—Spain would become the first team to reach the Nations League final three times in a row.

And all of this with an unforgettable memory in mind: that of Mikel Merino rising like a salmon into the Stuttgart Arena sky, now a lucky ground, to score with a seemingly impossible header and beat Manuel Neuer in the 116th minute of the aforementioned Euro 2024.

330 days later, we return to the place where we were all very happy last time round—very happy indeed.