Spain are through to the World Cup final after surprising favourites France with a convincing semi-final victory at Dallas Stadium.
Luis de la Fuente’s side blunted a France team brimming with attacking talent, controlled a game of few chances and will deservedly take their place in Sunday’s showpiece thanks to goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro.
Oyarzabal opened the scoring from the penalty spot midway through the first half after a lapse from France left-back Lucas Digne resulted in him giving forward Lamine Yamal an unceremonious wallop as he tried to clear the ball.
The spot-kick was confidently thumped into the corner by Oyarzabal and with a lead to defend, Spain’s control of the match only grew.
After a below-par first-half, France were expected to come out fighting but it was an increasingly confident Spain who seized the upper hand once more as Porro played a lovely one-two with Dani Olmo before slotting in the second at the near post.
With a little more than half an hour to save themselves, France were again thwarted in their attempts to break down an incredibly disciplined Spain outfit, who have conceded just once all tournament.
Spain remained calm, composed and full of class to the end and, ultimately, saw the game out comfortably.
For France, their hopes of making a third final in succession are over as they go into Saturday’s third-place play-off, which will represent the end of an era – with coach Didier Deschamps departing at the end of the tournament after 14 years at the helm.
Meanwhile, Spain will now travel to New Jersey, where they will await the winners of Wednesday’s second semi-final between England and Argentina, as they bid to win the World Cup for just the second time.
It was a game billed as this World Cup’s best attack against the tournament’s most stubborn defence.
In the end, it was no contest.
While France have dazzled with some of their attacking play, Spain have gone under the radar to some extent – with their measured control a little less eye-catching – but if there were any doubts about their overall quality, they can surely be thrown out now.
The side that triumphed at Euro 2024 was headlined by the thrilling wing play of Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams.
Injury has limited the impact of both this time around, with just one goal between them, although Lamine Yamal’s influence has steadily grown as the tournament has progressed.
Yet Spain find themselves in just their second World Cup final, hoping to emulate the great team of 2010 who lifted the trophy in South Africa.
Against France, Rodri was supreme in the middle of the park, snuffing out countless attacks before getting his team moving forward, dictating play and – after a long spell out with an anterior cruciate ligament injury – now looking close to the level that won him the Ballon d’Or in 2024.
Fabian Ruiz was the perfect foil beside him, justifying his selection ahead of Barcelona playmaker Pedri, while the defence once again showed their class.
It is a testament to not just the back four and goalkeeper, but the entire team – and coach De la Fuente – that it took until the 81st minute for France to have their first shot on target.
Tournament football, we are told, is all about peaking at the right time – and having just brushed a much-vaunted France aside, Spain may be doing just that.