Spain has advanced to their second World Cup final, delivering a commanding performance to defeat France 2-0 in the semi-finals. The victory in Dallas sees the European champions extend their unbeaten run to 37 matches, equalling a record for the longest unbeaten streak in international football by a European nation.
Many had considered France to be the favourites, given their strong tournament run featuring players like Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, and Michael Olise. However, Spain, under coach Luis de la Fuente, showcased their collective strength, leaving Les Bleus frustrated with only three attempts on target.
The opening goal came from a penalty by Mikel Oyarzabal after Lucas Digne fouled Lamine Yamal. Later, Pedro Porro slotted in Spain’s second goal following a well-executed exchange with Dani Olmo. These two goals were Spain’s only attempts on target in the match, highlighting their efficiency.
Spain’s journey to the final has seen them overcome challenges, including a 0-0 draw against Cape Verde in their opening match. They secured late winners against Portugal in the last 16 and Belgium in the quarter-finals. Their defensive solidity has been a hallmark of their campaign, having kept six clean sheets in seven games, a first in World Cup history for a single edition.
The team’s tactical approach was praised by former players and pundits. Patrick Vieira noted that Spain dominated “every single aspect” of the game, while Ian Wright highlighted the emphasis on “structure over individuality.” Guillem Balague described Spain’s performance as a “brilliant collective display” that controlled “absolutely everything.”
Luis de la Fuente, who took charge in December 2022, has led Spain to significant success, including a Nations League triumph in 2023 and Euro 2024 glory. His tenure has been marked by a focus on team cohesion, with many players having progressed through the national youth teams under his guidance. This continuity has fostered a strong team spirit, described as a “family” by Balague.
The Spanish coach expressed pride in his players, stating they deserved their place in the final due to their “effort, talent, sacrifice, trying to be a better version of ourselves.” He also noted a recapturing of the “spirit of 2010,” referencing Spain’s previous World Cup victory under Vicente del Bosque.
France’s coach, Didier Deschamps, acknowledged his team’s shortcomings, attributing the defeat to technical errors and a failure to match Spain’s control of the game. He stated that his players were “devastated” by the outcome. Michael Olise, who had five assists in the tournament, was substituted after an ineffective performance, creating only two chances and completing neither of his two dribbles.
The defeat means France will now compete in the third-place play-off. For Spain, the focus shifts to Sunday’s final, where they will face either Argentina or England. De la Fuente has stated he has no preference for their opponent, having previously considered England among the favourites for the tournament.
The Spanish team’s tactical superiority was evident in their ability to disrupt France’s midfield and exploit weaknesses in their defensive block. Dani Olmo’s role as a roaming number 10 created numerical advantages in midfield, while Spain’s full-backs committed to attack, often leaving French full-backs to defend against two players. This strategy led to Pedro Porro’s goal, as Desire Doue failed to track his run.
Spain’s impressive statistics further underscore their dominance: Lamine Yamal has never lost a game for Spain and has started 12 games at the World Cup and Euros combined, winning all of them. The team’s xG figure faced against France was 0.3, the lowest by a nation in a semi-final tie since Brazil against Sweden in 1994.
The victory marks the third time Spain has beaten France in a semi-final on their way to a major tournament final, having also done so before their European Championship success two summers ago and in the Nations League semi-finals in 2025. Spain is now poised to potentially achieve a Euros-World Cup double, a feat they last accomplished in 2010.
The team’s commitment was highlighted by De la Fuente, who mentioned that players who did not participate in the match stayed behind to train afterwards.
Source: bbc.co.uk
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