Spain put on a masterclass in their dominant 2-0 win over France in Dallas to reach their first World Cup final since lifting the trophy in 2010.
Spain (1.65) reached their first World Cup final in 16 years with a commanding 2-0 victory over France in Dallas on Tuesday, a result that was more comfortable than the scoreline suggests.
Goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro ended France’s tournament and confirmed what this Spain side has been building toward across seven games: a collective that suffocates individual brilliance and converts possession into points with ruthless efficiency.
How Spain Controlled The Match From The Start
Spain set their intentions from the opening whistle. Rather than chasing the game or trying to match France’s individual quality, Luis de la Fuente’s side prioritised structure, pressing and ball retention. For extended periods in the first half, France barely touched the ball in areas where their forwards could cause damage.
The penalty that opened the scoring arrived in the 22nd minute. Marc Cucurella’s cross from the left found Lucas Digne tracking backwards, the ball nodding up in the air as he prepared to clear. Lamine Yamal sprinted in from his blindside and was kicked in the torso as Digne made contact. Referee Iván Barton pointed to the spot, and Oyarzabal dispatched the kick high to Maignan’s left with ice-cold precision.
France coach Didier Deschamps took issue with the decision afterwards: “Did tonight’s referee have the level to officiate a World Cup semifinal?” he said. “It’s not just the penalty in question; it’s an accumulation of things.”
On the specifics, the ruling was technically correct – contact in the box against an attacking player who had touched the ball – though Yamal did not have possession at the moment of the foul.
Consequently, VAR confirmed the penalty stood, and Spain moved ahead for the first time in the match. France’s game plan, which had relied on keeping the score level and hitting on the counter, was immediately undermined.
France’s Midfield Exposed By Spain’s Engine Room
Spain’s midfield destroyed France’s tournament plans before France’s attack had any meaningful opportunity to respond. The trio of Rodri, Fabian Ruiz and Dani Olmo controlled the tempo completely, pinging passes between each other and through the French lines with an ease that made France’s central players look pedestrian by comparison.
Adrien Rabiot received an early booking for a foul on Olmo, which effectively made him a passenger for the remainder of his time on the pitch. He was substituted at half-time. Aurelien Tchouameni never established himself in the game. The two were consistently outnumbered and outrun by Rodri and Ruiz, who stayed connected to the defence and drove the ball forward when opportunities opened.
Rodri had endured a difficult club season at Manchester City after missing significant time with a serious knee injury. None of that showed in Dallas. His performance was quietly devastating, breaking up French attacks, recycling possession efficiently and never allowing France to establish any rhythm in the middle third.
“Rodri and Ruiz never strayed too far from each other and stayed connected to their defence, punching passes into Olmo, the front three and overlapping full-backs at will,” one analyst noted afterwards. France had no answer and no Plan B.
The Second Goal Ends France’s Hope
Furthermore, whatever France might have managed in the second half became irrelevant in the 58th minute. Dani Olmo played a pass to Porro on the right before tumbling as he made contact, but not before returning the ball into Porro’s path in a beautiful exchange. A chasm opened on France’s left side. Pressure on Spain was nonexistent. Porro surged through the gap and finished calmly past Maignan at the near post.
The Tottenham (14.95) right-back had endured a miserable club season, part of a side that barely avoided relegation. He spent Tuesday playing one of the most complete individual performances of his international career, defensive contributions across the game, a crucial early interception to deny Mbappe, and a goal to settle the contest definitively.
Deschamps threw on Rayan Cherki and Desire Doué in the closing stages, but Spain managed the game with the composure of a team that knew the result was settled. Yamal came close to a third goal with an effort that the assistant referee ruled out for offside. Ferran Torres headed wide. The scoreline flattered France.
France’s Attack Goes Missing at The Possible Worst Moment
The magnitude of the collapse from France’s celebrated front line deserves examination. Many pundits had described Mbappe, Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembele and Bradley Barcola as the most dangerous attack in world soccer before the tournament. Against Spain, they were reduced to spectators.
Spain’s defence allowed just one goal in seven World Cup matches entering this semi-final. They allowed France a total expected goals figure of just 0.3 all night. Mbappe won just two of 11 duel attempts and managed only three shot attempts worth a combined 0.08 expected goals. Porro, Rodri, Laporte, Cubarsí and Ruiz won 25 of 34 duels and made 44 defensive interventions.
Olise had a particularly difficult afternoon. Spain midfielder Rodri tracked him all evening, denying him any space to operate. After looking like one of the tournament’s standout players in earlier rounds, Olise eventually retreated to the right wing, desperate to find some involvement. Dembele made bad decision after bad decision and left with just two late shots to show for his evening. Barcola was largely anonymous against a Spanish back line that denied him the space his pace requires.
Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón made just three saves, most of them routine. France barely troubled him.
What Awaits In The Final
Spain’s victory sends them to New Jersey on Sunday to face either England (2.75) or Argentina (3.00). It will be Spain’s second World Cup final and their first since lifting the trophy against the Netherlands in 2010. De la Fuente has delivered two major trophies in two years, having won Euro 2024 with the same fundamental identity, collective over individual, structure over flair, patience over panic.
Should England (3.95) emerge from their semi-final in Atlanta, Spain would face the nation they defeated in Berlin two summers ago. An Argentina (4.74) final would reunite Lamine Yamal with Lionel Messi, a subplot the neutral world will follow with considerable interest regardless of the result.
For Deschamps, this was his final game in a role he has held for 14 years. He led France to the World Cup in 2018 and the final in 2022. He ends his tenure one win short of undisputed greatness, beaten by a team that made him look tactically outmanoeuvred from start to finish. Saturday’s third-place game against England or Argentina’s losing semi-finalist will be his last in charge.
Spain simply took them apart.
