Les Blues fell behind just after the hour mark when Mikel
Oyarzabal weaved past the French defence to break the deadlock.
However, Spain's advantage didn't last long, and less than
two minutes later Karim Benzema levelled the proceedings with a lovely curling
effort from the edge of the box which nestled in the far top corner.
But controversy wasn't far from the clash, and the Spanish
backline all deemed Kylian Mbappe to be offside when he bagged the winner in
the 80th minute.
Mbappe was ruled onside after a VAR check to earn France the
trophy.
However not all fans agreed that Mbappe was on side, and
some voiced their displeasure on Twitter.
Just when Spain were rejoicing after Oyarzabal gave them the
lead in the 64th minute, Benzema produced a magical shot in the 66th to cancel
the advantage.
Fourteen minutes after, Kylian Mbappe latching on a clinical
pass by Theo Hernandez, rounded up the keeper to slot in the winner, albeit a
controversial winner.
Replays showed Mbappe was some fraction offside, sandwiched
in between defenders, but the centre referee Anthony Taylor allowed the goal to
stand.
Didier Deschamps side had struggled to get a foothold in the
game but Mikel Oyarzabal’s strike woke them up.
With Paul Pogba excellent in midfield, Mbappe’s speed and
movement stretching Spain and Benzema a constant threat, the French were good
value for their victory.
Luis Enrique’s young Spain side, who had beaten European
champions Italy in the semi-finals, had played their trademark possession
football with patience and precision but in the end could not compensate for
the absence of a genuine striker.
The first half was a relatively subdued affair with Spain moving
the ball well but without dangerous penetration while France were disrupted by
the loss to injury of centre-half Raphael Varane.
But both sides were awoken after the break when France
full-back Theo Hernandez thundered a shot against the underside of the bar
after a swift break.
Spain responded to that warning in clinical fashion, taking
the lead when Oyarzabal latched on to a long pass from Sergio Busquets, held
off Dayot Upamecano and fired into the bottom corner.
The French response was swift, however, with Mbappe finding
Benzema who cut inside before unleashing a brilliant curling shot into the far
corner to make it 1-1.
Mbappe then grabbed the winner, 10 minutes from the end,
racing on to a through ball from Hernandez and keeping his cool to slot past
Unai Simon.
Spain protested that Mbappe was offside when he received the
ball but the VAR check found a slight touch from defender Eric Garcia had
played the France striker onside.
France had keeper Hugo Lloris to thank for two late saves as
Deschamps’s side held on for the victory against intense Spanish pressure.
Lloris got down well to keep out a low shot from Oyarzabal
in the 89th minute and then in stoppage time he reacted superbly to parry a
strike from substitute Yeremi Pino.