Spain booked their place in the World Cup final after a clinical 2-0 win over France in Tuesday's first semi-final at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, T
Spain booked their place in the World Cup final after a clinical 2-0 win over France in Tuesday’s first semi-final at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, ending Les Bleus’ bid for a third straight final appearance.
Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 22nd minute after left-back Lucas Digne fouled Lamine Yamal inside the box, the Real Sociedad forward sending Mike Maignan the wrong way with his fifth goal of the tournament.
France’s afternoon worsened moments later when centre-back William Saliba went down injured without contact and had to be replaced by Maxence Lacroix, who was making just his second appearance of the campaign.
Spain doubled their advantage in the 58th minute through Pedro Porro, who combined in a slick give-and-go with Dani Olmo before slotting past Maignan from close range.
Yamal thought he had a third moments later, curling in from a tight angle, but the effort was chalked off for offside.
Luis de la Fuente’s side were dominant throughout, restricting a France attack featuring Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Bradley Barcola and Michael Oliseh to just 0.3 expected goals from ten shots, only three of which were on target.
Mbappe, the tournament’s top scorer heading into the match, was repeatedly crowded out by Spain’s press and never found the space that had defined his run to the semi-finals.
France, the 2018 champions and 2022 runners-up, had scored 13 goals and conceded just one in their five matches before Tuesday, but found no answers against Spain’s disciplined defensive block.
Didier Deschamps’ side went into the break trailing for the first time all tournament, a scenario in which France have historically never recovered to win a World Cup match.
Spain’s defence has now conceded only once in six games at this World Cup, underlining a campaign built as much on control and organisation as on the attacking talents of Yamal, Olmo and Fabian Ruiz.
The Euro 2024 champions will face either England or Argentina in Sunday’s final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, chasing a second World Cup title to add to their 2010 triumph. France, meanwhile, will play in Saturday’s third-place match as they close out the tournament under Deschamps.
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