Spain have advanced to their first World Cup final since 2010, following a 2-0 victory over France in Dallas. The win sets up a final showdown in New Jersey on Sunday against either England or Argentina.
The match saw Spain largely dominate proceedings, with Mikel Oyarzabal converting a penalty in the first half and Pedro Porro adding a second goal to seal the win. France, who had been considered strong contenders, struggled to assert themselves throughout the semi-final encounter.
First Half Dominance
The opening goal came midway through the first half after Lucas Digne conceded a penalty. While there were some questions regarding the validity of the award, the on-field decision by referee Iván Barton stood. Replays suggested that Lamine Yamal had turned his limb towards the ball before being fouled by Digne, who panicked in the challenge.
Oyarzabal calmly dispatched the spot-kick past Mike Maignan, giving Spain the lead. Shortly after the goal, France faced further disruption when William Saliba left the field due to injury, being replaced by Maxence Lacroix. Spain maintained control, preventing France from establishing a strong presence in midfield.
France struggled to create significant opportunities, with Kylian Mbappé, a key figure for his team, having limited impact. An early chance for Álex Baena from a free-kick was blocked, and Mbappé overcooked a pass towards Ousmane Dembélé, squandering a promising attack. Despite some moments of combination play from France, Spain’s defence was well-organised.
Spain continued to press, with Dani Olmo and Lamine Yamal combining to set up Fabián Ruiz, whose shot was blocked by Dayot Upamecano. Spain went into the interval with a narrow lead, having effectively neutralised France’s attacking threats.
Second Half Control and Decisive Goal
In the second half, France made a substitution, bringing on Manu Koné for Adrien Rabiot, who had been booked earlier. However, the change did not shift the momentum, as Spain remained in command. Oyarzabal had another shot that went over the bar, and France found it difficult to retain possession or build sustained attacks.
Pedro Porro’s goal further solidified Spain’s lead. The goal was well-worked, with Olmo returning a pass to Porro as a gap opened on France’s left side. Porro’s finish was precise, making the score 2-0. This goal put the game beyond France’s reach, who appeared dazed and unable to comprehend the situation.
Lamine Yamal had a goal disallowed for a narrow offside call, which would have extended Spain’s lead further. Mbappé made his first significant impression in the 64th minute, forcing a save from Unai Simón and later having a shot deflected wide by Marc Cucurella. Despite a coaching break for France, it made little difference to the outcome.
Spain’s goalkeeper, Unai Simón, secured his sixth clean sheet in seven matches, making a crucial clearance before Mbappé could capitalise. Pedro Porro, who scored the second goal, now has three goal involvements in the tournament. Aymeric Laporte delivered a strong performance in defence, maintaining a passing accuracy of over 90%.
Rodri, the Spain captain, was instrumental in suffocating France’s midfield, dominating his opponents throughout the match. Lamine Yamal, despite some earlier struggles in the tournament, was a key player in the semi-final, winning the penalty that led to Spain’s first goal. Mikel Oyarzabal’s penalty was his fifth goal of the tournament, contributing to a memorable World Cup for him.
France’s players largely struggled, with Mike Maignan guessing correctly for the penalty but being beaten by its pace and power. Jules Kounde had difficulties with his passing, and Dayot Upamecano, despite a significant block to deny Fabián Ruiz, could not prevent the defeat. Ousmane Dembélé, a Ballon d’Or winner, was unable to impose himself on the game, and Bradley Barcola’s early run that won a corner was one of few notable moments.
Spain will now prepare for the final on Sunday.
Source: theguardian.com