Spain secured their place in the World Cup final after a 2-0 victory over France in a semi-final match held in Arlington, Texas. The win means Spain will now face either England or Argentina in the final.
The match saw Spain effectively neutralise France‘s attacking threats, despite Didier Deschamps‘s side being considered strong contenders for the trophy following several impressive performances in the United States. Spain, the reigning European champions, proved to be a formidable opponent.
First Half Dominance
The opening goal came in the first half when Mikel Oyarzabal converted a penalty. The Salvadoran referee Ivan Barton awarded the spot-kick after France left-back Lucas Digne committed a foul on Spain winger Lamine Yamal. Oyarzabal powerfully struck the ball past France goalkeeper Mike Maignan, marking his fifth goal of the tournament and giving Spain a 1-0 lead. This was the first time France had trailed in the competition.
Shortly after the goal, France faced another setback when centre-back William Saliba was forced to leave the pitch due to a recurrence of a lower back injury. He was replaced by Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix. Spain nearly extended their lead with intricate one-touch play, but Dayot Upamecano intervened to deny Fabian Ruiz.
France concluded the first half without registering a single shot on target, managing only two attempts in total. Their inability to create clear chances highlighted Spain‘s defensive solidity and control over the game.
Second Half Seal and Reaction
In an attempt to bolster his team’s attack, Deschamps introduced Desire Doue for Bradley Barcola in the 57th minute. However, just a minute later, Spain doubled their lead. Defender Pedro Porro initiated a well-worked team goal, delivering a pass to Dani Olmo at the edge of the box before receiving the return ball and calmly slotting it past Maignan.
Porro‘s goal effectively sealed the victory for Spain. Speaking after the match, Porro described the win as a “dream come true,” attributing the success to the collective effort of the team. He emphasised the team’s strategy of maintaining possession to counter France‘s strengths, which he believed they executed successfully.
Even with further substitutions from Deschamps, including Theo Hernandez and Rayan Cherki, France could not find a way back into the match against a resolute Spain side. Spain has conceded only one goal throughout the entire tournament, showcasing a combination of defensive strength and the attacking flair of players like Yamal.
This defeat is a significant blow for France, who had reached the last two World Cup finals, winning in 2018 and losing to Argentina in 2022. The French squad featured a star-studded attack, including Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé, Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele, and Michael Olise, but they were unable to breach Spain‘s defence.
The result means France will now compete in the third-place playoff. Deschamps is set to step down as France coach after the tournament, concluding a 14-year tenure. Spain is now just 90 minutes away from potentially winning the first-ever 48-team World Cup.
Oyarzabal, who scored the opening penalty, has a strong record in crucial matches, having scored in every final he has played in, including a winner against England at the Euros two years ago. He also led Real Sociedad to their first Copa del Rey title in 34 years from the spot.
The victory was a testament to Spain‘s collective performance, with players like Rodri also delivering strong individual displays. Porro, who was substituted late in the game, watched as Spain maintained their control, moving one step closer to emulating the 2010 World Cup-winning team.
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Source: aljazeera.com
Arjun Sharma
Sports Reporter