Spain has advanced to the World Cup final after defeating France 2-0 in a semi-final match held in Dallas. The victory marks Spain‘s first appearance in the final since 2010. They are now set to face either England or Argentina in New Jersey on Sunday.
The match saw Spain largely dominate, with Mikel Oyarzabal converting a penalty in the first half and Pedro Porro securing the second goal. France, despite being considered strong contenders, struggled to assert themselves throughout the game, with their attack, including prominent player Kylian Mbappé, largely contained.
First Half Action and Controversy
The opening goal for Spain came from a penalty awarded midway through the first half. Lucas Digne of France was deemed to have fouled Lamine Yamal in the box. While the on-field decision by referee Iván Barton stood, there was some debate surrounding the incident, with France protesting a potential handball by Yamal prior to the foul.
However, rules analyst Christina Unkel, speaking on ITV Sport, supported the official’s decision, stating that contact on Yamal‘s sleeve would not be considered a handling offense. She compared Digne‘s challenge to similar incidents involving Harry Kane and Luka Modric earlier in the tournament. Gary Neville also criticised Digne‘s defending, highlighting his lack of awareness of Yamal‘s position.
Oyarzabal calmly converted the penalty, giving Spain the lead. Shortly after, France faced another setback when William Saliba had to leave the game due to injury, being replaced by Maxence Lacroix. France struggled to gain control in midfield, with Spain dictating the pace of the game.
Despite France‘s efforts to create opportunities, including an early run by Bradley Barcola and a chance for Mbappé that was overcooked, Spain‘s defense remained resolute. Dayot Upamecano made a crucial block to deny Fabián Ruiz a potential second goal for Spain, ensuring the score remained 1-0 at halftime.
Spain Extends Lead and Controls Second Half
At the start of the second half, France made a change, bringing on Manu Koné for Adrien Rabiot, who had been booked earlier. Despite the substitution, Spain maintained their dominance, with Oyarzabal having another shot go over the bar. France found it difficult to retain possession and mount sustained attacks.
The gamble on Barcola‘s speed did not pay off for France, and their situation worsened before the hour mark. Pedro Porro then scored Spain‘s second goal, a well-executed finish after a pass from Dani Olmo. This goal further solidified Spain‘s control over the match, making their victory appear comfortable.
A potential third goal for Spain by Lamine Yamal was disallowed due to a narrow offside call. Mbappé, who had been largely ineffective, finally made an impression in the 64th minute with a cross-shot that was saved by Unai Simón, and later had a drive deflected wide by Marc Cucurella. However, these efforts did not change the trajectory of the game.
Spain‘s performance was marked by strong defensive play and effective midfield control, preventing France‘s key attackers from making an impact. Rodri delivered an outstanding performance as Spain‘s captain, contributing to the team’s midfield dominance. Unai Simón also maintained a clean sheet, his sixth in seven matches.
The victory means Spain will now prepare for the World Cup final in New Jersey on Sunday.
Source: theguardian.com
Ama Serwah
Yaw Appiah
Evelyn Mensah
Kwame Ofori