Spain has advanced to the World Cup final after a stunning semi-final win over favored France at Dallas Stadium.
Luis de la Fuente’s team stifled a France squad full of offensive prowess, managed a match with limited opportunities, and will rightfully secure their spot in Sunday’s final due to goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro.
Oyarzabal netted the opening goal from the penalty mark midway through the first half when a mistake by France’s left-back Lucas Digne led him to strike forward Lamine Yamal clumsily while attempting to clear the ball.
Oyarzabal confidently struck the penalty into the corner, and with a lead to protect, Spain’s dominance in the match increased.
Following a disappointing first half, France was anticipated to respond assertively, but it was Spain, growing in confidence, who regained control as Porro executed a neat one-two with Dani Olmo before finishing with a low shot into the near post.
With just over thirty minutes to rescue their chances, France faced another setback in trying to penetrate an exceptionally organized Spain team, which has allowed only one goal throughout the tournament.
Spain stayed calm, poised, and elegant until the finish and ultimately managed to control the game effortlessly.
For France, their aspirations of reaching a third consecutive final have ended as they head into Saturday’s third-place match, marking the conclusion of an era, with coach Didier Deschamps leaving after 14 years in charge post-tournament.
In the meantime, Spain will head to New Jersey, where they will wait for the victors of Wednesday’s second semi-final clash between England and Argentina, as they strive to secure the World Cup for only the second occasion.
It was a match promoted as the World Cup’s top offense versus the competition’s toughest defense.
Ultimately, it was an easy win.
Although France have impressed with their attacking style, Spain have flown somewhat under the radar—with their composed play being less striking—but any doubts regarding their overall quality can certainly be dismissed now.
The team that won Euro 2024 was highlighted by the exciting wing performance of Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams.
Injury has restricted the effectiveness of both players this time, with only one goal scored collectively, although Lamine Yamal’s impact has consistently increased as the tournament has advanced.
However, Spain is in only their second World Cup final, aiming to replicate the success of the legendary 2010 team that won the championship in South Africa.
Versus France, Rodri excelled in midfield, extinguishing numerous threats before advancing his team, orchestrating the game, and—following an extensive recovery from an anterior cruciate ligament injury—appearing near the form that earned him the Ballon d’Or in 2024.
Fabian Ruiz complemented him perfectly, validating his choice over Barcelona’s Pedri, while the defense once more demonstrated its quality.
It demonstrates not only the defense and goalkeeper but also the whole squad—along with coach De la Fuente—that it wasn’t until the 81st minute that France registered their first shot on target.
Tournament football, we hear, revolves around hitting form at the perfect moment – and after easily overcoming a highly touted France, Spain might be achieving exactly that.
Despite Spain’s brilliance, this was an unusually dull showing from a France team that had previously been characterized by its liveliness in this World Cup.
Digne’s error caused Les Bleus to trail for the first time in the tournament, a setback worsened by William Saliba’s injury shortly after.
However, a team organized to showcase their most thrilling attacking players found it difficult to achieve that.
Rather, particularly in the latter half, a meticulously trained Spain squad made certain that France’s most threatening players only obtained the ball in zones where they could be managed.
Despite the sense that a single goal from France could alter the game’s dynamics, Spain’s capacity to control the match both with and without the ball made it difficult to identify a potential source for such a goal.
Considering all the enthusiasm they generated, this is a disappointing conclusion for France, who had aimed to bid farewell to Deschamps with a triumphant second World Cup during his managerial tenure.
Instead, he will exit in the more subdued atmosphere of the third-place match.
This will at least allow Mbappe to maintain his pursuit of the Golden Boot—and possibly become the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer in the meantime—but the trophy he and France aimed for is unattainable for another four years.
