Why it’s a goal? Ref tells of Mbappe’s winning strike

Milan: Kylian Mbappe scored a controversial late goal to help France rally from a goal down to defeat Spain 2-1 in the final of the 2021 UEFA Nations League on Sunday night at San Siro in Milan, Italy.

After a cagey first hour of play, things opened up with a goal from Mikel Oyarzabal for Spain, but France responded with scores from Karim Benzema and then Mbappe’s decisive strike, which appeared to have come from an offside position, but was later confirmed by VAR as a valid goal.

The goal was scored after Theo Hernandez played a pass to the offside PSG forward. However, the goal stood because Eric Garcia allegedly went to play the ball.

On the way towards Mbappe, Garcia touched the ball and referee Anthony Taylor believed this established a new phase of play. That’s what he explained to the Spain players, as revealed by Sergio Busquets after the final whistle.

“Mbappe was offside, but the referee said that Eric went for the ball and that this started a new phase,” Busquets told RTVE.

“That makes no sense, though. He went to try to cut the ball out because Mbappe was there and he assumed Mbappe was onside, so he did what any defender would have done in trying to cut it out.”