Nations League Finals Preview Pack
The fixtures, venues, teams and players to watch over the next week.
By Patric Ridge
For most of its duration, the 2025 Nations League has simply ebbed along.
But March’s quarter-finals — newly introduced for this campaign — teed up an intriguing Finals in Germany this week.
Host nation Germany, France, Portugal and European champions Spain will tussle to settle the outcome.
Here’s a quick-read preview of the Nations League Finals.
THE FIXTURES
June 4th: Germany v Portugal (SF1)
June 5th: Spain v France (SF2)
June 8th: Loser SF1 v Loser SF1
June 8th: Winner SF1 v Winner SF1
THE VENUES
Two host cities, and two host stadiums, will act as the venues for this week’s matches.
Munich’s Allianz Arena, fresh from hosting the Champions League final, will hold the opening game, between Germany and Portugal, on Wednesday.
Stuttgart’s MHPArena is the venue for the second semi-final, as Spain take on France, and then also the third-place play-off.
The tournament returns to Munich for the showpiece match.
THE TEAMS
Germany are making their first appearance in the Nations League finals, and will have the backing of a home crowd behind them. Julian Nagelsmann’s team are unbeaten in eight games, all of which have come in the Nations League, since a 2-1, extra-time defeat to Spain at Euro 2024. Route to the Finals: Topped Group A3, then beat Italy 5-4 on aggregate.
Portugal won the inaugural Nations League in 2019, and are looking to become the first team to win the Finals twice. Cristiano Ronaldo is still likely to lead their line, even at 40, as Roberto Martinez aims for silverware. With Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Rafael Leao, Goncalo Ramos, Joao Felix, Vitinha and Ruben Dias all named in Martinez’s squad, the talent is there, Martinez just has to find a way to make it gel. Route to the Finals: Topped Group A1, then beat 5-3 on aggregate (after extra time).
Spain, a little under a year on from their Euro 2024 triumph, have the chance to cement their status as the continent’s best team and get another notch on their belt ahead of next year’s World Cup, as they aim for a second straight Nations League crown. La Roja are on an 18-game unbeaten streak, stretching back to March of last year, and are probably the favourites. Route to the Finals: Topped Group A4, then beat the Netherlands on penalties after a 5-5 aggregate draw (after extra time).
France, though, are of course a match for any other nation on their day, and won this tournament back in 2021. Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembélé and Co. flattered to deceive at Euro 2024, but Didier Deschamps — who will be bowing out after the 2026 World Cup — knows how to grind out results in the big games, as demonstated by Les Bleus coming from 2-0 down to then beat Croatia on penalties in the last round. Route to the Finals: Beat Croatia on peanalties after a 2-2 aggregate draw (after extra time).
THE KEY PLAYERS
Florian Wirtz looks set to be one of this summer’s big movers, with Liverpool having lodged a British-record bid to sign the Bayer Leverkusen playmaker. With Jamal Musiala out injured, expect Julian Nagelsmann to direct most of Germany’s attacks through 22-year-old Wirtz, who scored 10 Bundesliga goals and provided 12 assists in the competition over 2024-25. Liverpool fans will be keen to keep a close eye on him.
Vitinha could be excused if he has something of a hangover as he jets out to join up with Portugal’s squad, given he will be celebrating PSG’s Champions League triumph. The midfielder has been the beating heart of Luis Enrique’s all-conquering side this term, and if he can replicate that kind of form for his country, then Portugal, with their vast array of attacking talent ahead of him, are a force to be reckoned with.
Lamine Yamal announced himself on the world stage at Euro 2024, but if there was ever any question as to whether his performances in Germany last year were a flash in the pan, then the teenage sensation has certainly silenced any doubters. His goals, assists, chance creation and dribbles were integral to Hansi Flick’s Barcelona in 2024-25, as the Blaugrana won LaLiga and the Copa del Rey, beat Real Madrid four times, and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League — a tie in which Yamal scored a sublime goal and came up with some moments of genius. Expect him to star again.
Kylian Mbappé may not have been able to lead Real Madrid to trophies this season, and it is ironic that the season after he leaves Paris Saint-Germain is when his old club finally ended their Champions League wait, but he plundered 43 goals across all competitions for Los Blancos, and is just two goals away from hitting the 50 landmark for Les Bleus. With Dembélé and Marcus Thuram likely to form a front trio alongside Mbappe, who was left out of France’s squads late last year but returned to captain them in the quarter-finals in March, expect plenty of excitement if France can click into gear in the final third.
ONE TO WATCH
Watch out for Nick Woltemade, the 6ft 6in striker coming off the back of a fine season with Stuttgart, for whom he scored 12 Bundesliga goals in 28 appearances. He is yet to win a Germany cap, but the 23-year-old could prove a difference-maker if he gets a shot.