Spain delivered a resounding statement to those who viewed them as underdogs, booking their place in the World Cup final in New Jersey this Sunday by dismantling France. Didier Deschamps’ side, often billed as the champions-elect, found their attack completely neutralized, leaving Kylian Mbappé isolated and unable to influence the game as Spain dictated play from the moment they took the lead.
The match began with a sterile period of Spanish possession, though France initially showed some flow when Michael Olise cushioned a ball to Ousmane Dembélé, who then delivered a pass toward Mbappé, only for the Spanish defense to recover in numbers. The deadlock was broken midway through the first half due to a defensive lapse by Lucas Digne. The left-back failed to clear a cross from the opposite side, allowing Lamine Yamal to contest the ball. As Yamal nudged it forward, he was brought down by Digne. Referee Iván Barton awarded the penalty, and despite some debate over whether the video assistant referee should have intervened, the decision stood. Mikel Oyarzabal stepped up and emphatically converted the spot-kick past Mike Maignan.
France’s evening worsened shortly after when William Saliba pulled up with an injury and was replaced by Maxence Lacroix. Spain continued to dominate, with a sequence involving Dani Olmo and Lamine Yamal nearly setting up Fabián Ruiz for a second goal, only for Dayot Upamecano to make a crucial block. At halftime, Deschamps replaced the booked Adrien Rabiot with Manu Koné, but the tactical shift failed to provide the necessary uplift. France struggled to maintain possession, and when they did create opportunities, they were often wasted, such as when Dembélé passed the ball straight out of play.
Spain’s control remained absolute, and they doubled their lead before the hour mark. A beautifully worked move saw a tumbling Dani Olmo return a pass to Pedro Porro, who finished with precision into the French net. The goal highlighted the chasm in the French defense on the left side. Spain nearly added a third, but a narrow offside call denied Lamine Yamal. France’s attempts to respond were largely ineffective; Mbappé saw a cross-shot batted away by Unai Simón in the 64th minute, and a later drive was deflected wide by Marc Cucurella. Despite a late free-kick from Mbappé and an opportunity for Ferran Torres to add further gloss to the scoreline, Spain remained in total command until the final whistle. The victory confirms Spain’s status as a formidable force, while France leaves the tournament dazed and resoundingly beaten.
Koné replaced Adrien Rabiot, a walking red card since being booked early on, for the second period. France needed 11 players but also required an uplift in every area. Instead Spain remained in total command, Oyarzabal shooting over. France could not muster enough of the ball to pose any sustained threat. When they wro
