World champions France defeated Belgium 3-2 in a thrilling UEFA Nations League semi-final on Thursday after trailing two goals to make it to Sunday's showpiece match against Spain in Theo Hernandez's last minute.
The Belgian thought they had won the vibratory contest minutes before the end of the game, but Romelu Lukaku's late effort was dismissed for offside by VAR.
Yannick Carrasco put the Belgian forward in the 37th minute, cut off the front from the left flank and then surprised Hugo Lloris, passing the wrong-footed French goalkeeper past the pass.
Three minutes later, Lukaku doubled the lead with a brilliant goal, turned swiftly to loosen his marker Lucas Hernández, and then destroyed a thunderous drive behind Lloris from a tight angle.
The 2–0 scoreline at the interval was somewhat harsh on France, who had played some lucrative football, with Kylian Mbappe and Karim Benzema joining well with Antoine Griezmann in the three-pronged attack.
It was Benzema who brought France back into the game in the 62nd minute, twisting brilliantly and following Mbappe's excellent work to find room to drill a shot home from the edge of the box.
Mbappe, who had not scored in his last six internationals, then equalized with a penalty after German referee Daniel Siebert passed the pitchside monitor, before Yuri Tielemans grabbed Griezmann's leg as he challenged him. was given.
France were on top and looking for a winner, but three minutes before the end of normal time, Lukaku won it for Belgium, driving home a cross from Carrasco, but the goal was dismissed by VAR for offside.
Paul Pogba hit the top of the post with a curling free-kick before Les Blais won with a 90th-minute strike.
Mbappe and Griezmann lined up on the right, overlapping Benjamin Pavard fired in a low cross on which an off-balance Toby Alderweireld could only get a light touch, turning the ball towards Hernández, who saw off keeper Thibaut Courtois. Set himself before hitting a pinpoint low. Run.
France coach Didier Deschamps said: "We were unlucky in the first half. We sat down a bit too much."
"They had a good 20 minutes but after that we weren't in danger and we had plenty of chances," he said. "The result reflects the character of the team. We came here to play the final and here we are."
However, Deschamps said France showed why they still had to be regarded as a force to be reckoned with at this year's Euro 2020 after a shock loss to Switzerland in the last 16.
"We confirmed what we did against Finland, against Belgium which is the best country in the world in Europe. We are still among the best teams."
Deschamps said the game was one of the best in his time as coach of France, which started in 2012.
"It's one of the best, because of the quality of our opponents, how it came out," he explained. "We had the pride and character to change this despite the adversity. It's a great, great moment."
On Mbappe's performance, Deschamps said: "Kylian had no doubts. He was determined after his lack of efficiency at Euro. As I always said, the French team is better off without Kylian Mbappe."
However, it was more disappointing for Belgium's "golden generation", whose trophy-less history now seems to be damned.
Belgium coach Roberto Martinez, whose side has struggled to meet its billing as a contender in recent tournaments, felt the weight of expectation had taken its toll on the world's top-ranked team.
"It's a responsibility we feel for our fans and the way this generation wants to bring silverware to something so disappointing," he said.
"In the second half, we were a little too emotional, maybe we were thinking too much about the final, about qualifying. We didn't do what we had to do. We let France come back."