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Varane off injured

Hello everybody and welcome along to this Spain vs France live blog for the 2021 UEFA Nations League final. After winning their respective semi-finals in dramatic fashion, kicking off this Nations League Final Four in Italy, Luis Enrique's Spain side and Didier Deschamps' France squad will face off in Milan at the San Siro for the trophy. It should be a thrilling battle between two teams who haven't met competitively in over eight years. We'll have all the updates from Milan for you on this live blog as the night progresses.

Spain vs France LIVE SCORE: 0-0

This is the start of our live blog for the 2021 Nations League final of Spain vs France. We'll have the latest information during the build-up and then minute-by-minute updates once the game kicks off, with the entries nearest the top the most recent ones.

Half time: It's still 0-0 as Spain can't turn possession into chances

Spain have absolutely dominated possession in this game, finishing the first half with 67 percent of the ball. But, they haven't been able to turn that into chances. Ferran Torres has looked lively down the right on a couple of occasions, but that's about it from Spain as they are being held level by a France side that lost Raphael Varane to injury.

Minute 40: Varane goes off injured

There is bad news for France, with Raphael Varane having to go off with a muscular injury suffered without any contact with a Spain player. Dayot Upamecano comes on, but this is a big blow, with France's other two centre-backs each having had some iffy moments already.

Minute 36: Alonso fires a freekick wide

Ferran Torres wins a freekick for Spain in a dangerous position and Marcos Alonso tries a shot at goal, only for his effort to bounce harmlessly wide and past Lloris' post.

Minute 31: Spain want a penalty, but don't get one

France launch an attack, but only after a possible handball from Jules Kounde in his own penalty area. Spain's players call for a handball, as the centre-back seemed to move his arm towards a cross into the box, but Anthony Taylor waves play on after a brief pause to speak with the VAR room.

Minute 26: Kounde cuts out Spain's corner

Ferran Torres makes the most of a lack of communication between Kimpembe and Theo, winning a corner. It's a dangerous one, but Jules Kounde is there to clear the danger for Les Bleus.

Minute 23: Spain have 65 percent possession halfway through the half

We're at the halfway point of the first half and Spain are very much in control in terms of possession, with 65 percent of the ball. Yet France always look like they could make something happen when they do have it. It's still 0-0.

Minute 21: Ferran Torres is looking sharp

Despite coming into this game with some injury concerns, Ferran Torres is looking sharp. Most of Spain's attacking play is coming down his side, the right flank.

Minute 17: Gavi almost breaks through

Spain now have the ball in France's half, passing it around patiently as they look for an opening. When they don't find one, they don't mind passing it back, but Gavi is bold and tries to break past three white shirts, almost sneaking into the box before being stopped.

Minute 11: Sarabia has Spain's first shot

Spain finally reach Hugo Lloris' box, but Pablo Sarabia's effort from a very tight angle and under pressure is easily saved by Hugo Lloris.

Minute 8: Spain survive France's corners

France win a couple of corners in a row and Spain don't look so sure defending them, but they do manage to survive that brief spell of pressure from Les Bleus.

Minute 6: Chance for Benzema, but it would have been offside

Benzema receives the ball in Spain's area, but is offside. The play is allowed to continue, though, and ends up as a corner because the flag doesn't go up. VAR would have ruled it out had Benzema scored.

Minute 5: Spain keep the ball, but can't get past halfway

The ball is Spain's, but it's in Spain's own half. France are happy for La Roja to have possession in their own half of the pitch, so it's a slow start to this one.

Minute 2: Gavi with a tough challenge on Tchouameni

Not much happens in the opening minute or two as Spain pass the ball around, but Spain lose possession and Gavi challenges Tchouameni but poorly. It's a freekick, but could have been a booking if it wasn't the second minute.

Minute 1: Kick off in the Nations League final!

Here we go then! It's Spain who kick us off at the San Siro, as they aim to win a title for the first time in nine years. Let's see if La Roja can do it against the reigning world champions France.

20:40 CEST: Luis Figo brings the Nations League trophy out

As the players wait to come out of the tunnel, Luis Figo has presented the UEFA Nations League trophy to the San Siro and placed it on the stand at the side of the pitch. It's almost time for kick off now.

20:30 CEST: Anthony Taylor is the Nations League final referee

The man in the middle for this Spain vs France final is Anthony Taylor, the English referee. He has refereed Spain very recently, in fact, having been in charge for their 2-1 loss to Sweden in World Cup qualifying last month.

20:20 CEST: Busquets speaks ahead of the final

Sergio Busquets has spoken ahead of this Nations League final, talking to Spanish channel La 1. "It's true that others in the squad might lack experience of finals with the national team, but they'll make up for that with their excitement and the fact that many have played finals at youth level," the captain explained.

20:05 CEST: The San Siro is ready for the Nations League final

There are few settings as beautiful as the San Siro for a final and the stadium is already welcoming in some fans. The Spain and France flags are flying high, with one of Italy's historic rivals to be crowned Nations League champion here tonight.

19:45 CEST: The confirmed France line-up is out now too

We now have the confirmed starting XI from Didier Deschamps as well. The current world champions are setting up as follows: Hugo Lloris; Jules Kounde, Raphael Varane, Presnel Kimpembe; Benjamin Pavard, Paul Pogba, Aurelien Tchouameni, Theo Hernandez; Antoine Griezmann, Karim Benzema, Kylian Mbappe.

19:30 CEST: The Spain XI is out!

We have the confirmed Spanish national team line-up for tonight's Nations League final, with Luis Enrique setting his team up as: Unai Simon; Cesar Azpilicueta, Eric Garcia, Aymeric Laporte, Marcos Alonso; Gavi, Sergio Busquets, Rodri; Ferran Torres, Mikel Oyarzabal, Pablo Sarbia.

19:00 CEST: Spain vs France prediction time

It's getting closer and closer to kick off of the 2021 Nations League final between Spain and France, so let's have some predictions. Who is going to lift the trophy tonight? Spain or France? Have your say in our poll.

18:35 CEST: The Nations League third-place result

The third-place playoff of the Nations League was a pointless match in the view of many, including Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, but it did take place this Sunday afternoon and Italy defeated the Belgians 2-1. They finish third in their home Nations League Final Four tournament.

18:10 CEST: The Spain vs France precedents

Spain have faced France the third-most times of all other national teams, but they haven't met competitively since 2013 when they were in the same qualifying group for the 2014 World Cup. Then, there was a 1-1 draw in Madrid and a 1-0 victory for La Roja away. There have been two friendlies since then, with a 1-0 French win in 2014 and a 2-0 Spanish victory in 2017, making for an overall head-to-head record 34 Spain wins, 12 France wins and seven draws between these nations in 35 meetings.

17:50 CEST: The Spain vs France predicted line-ups

It's always difficult to predict Luis Enrique's line-ups, but Spain's probable XI is: Unai Simon; Cesar Azpilicueta, Aymeric Laporte, Pau Torres, Marcos Alonso; Koke, Sergio Busquets, Gavi; Pablo Sarabia, Ferran Torres, Mikel Oyarzabal. As for France, the predicted line-up is: Hugo Lloris; Jules Kounde, Raphael Varane, Lucas Hernandez; Benjamin Pavard, Paul Pogba, Aurelien Tchouameni, Theo Hernandez; Antoine Griezmann; Kylian Mbappe, Karim Benzema.

17:30 CEST: When and where to watch the 2021 Nations League final

This Sunday night's final gets going at 20:45 CEST local time, which is 19:45 BST for those in the UK and 14:45 CEST for those watching on from the east coast of the USA. Fans in the UK can watch Spain vs France on Sky Sports, while those in the USA can tune in through Univision, TUDN and ESPN.

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