Spain produced a stunningly dominant performance to defeat pre-tournament favourites France 2-0 and reach their first World Cup final since winning the tournament in 2010.
Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 22nd minute after Lucas Digne’s reckless challenge on Lamine Yamal. Pedro Porro sealed the victory in the 58th minute with a sublime finish after a clever one-two with Dani Olmo.
France, looking to reach their third consecutive World Cup final, never got going. The tournament favourites were reduced to long-range efforts and managed just 10 total shots – their lowest of any game in the tournament.
The defeat ends Didier Deschamps’ 14-year reign as France coach on a bitter note. Spain will now face either England or Argentina in the World Cup Final on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Spain dictated play from the opening whistle, controlling possession and suffocating France’s attacking threats. The first dangerous opportunity actually fell to France when Ousmane Dembele found Kylian Mbappe with a delicate through ball, but the Spanish defence combined effectively to neutralise the threat.
The turning point came in the 22nd minute. Lamine Yamal, playing the day after his 19th birthday, produced a clever piece of play to intercept Digne’s attempted clearance just inside the penalty area. The French left-back caught the Spanish winger, and referee Ivan Barton pointed to the spot without hesitation.
Oyarzabal stepped up and hammered the ball past Mike Maignan for his fifth goal of the tournament, giving Spain a deserved 1-0 lead. It was the first time France had trailed at any point in the tournament.
France’s problems deepened in the 30th minute when centre-back William Saliba was forced off with a back injury, replaced by Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix. Les Bleus finished the half without a single shot on target and just two attempts overall .
Deschamps made changes at half-time, bringing on Manu Kone and Desire Doue in a bid to spark his attack. But within a minute of Doue’s introduction, Spain doubled their lead.
A stunning team move saw Pedro Porro deliver a sharp pass to Dani Olmo on the edge of the box before collecting the return ball and calmly slotting past Maignan. It was a goal of supreme quality that deflated the French.
Lamine Yamal had the ball in the net for a third time minutes later, but the goal was ruled out for offside. France pushed forward desperately, but Spain’s defence, anchored by Rodri, remained impenetrable.
Mbappe’s frustration boiled over in the 86th minute when he rushed towards Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon, who was bending over to pick up the ball. The collision earned the Real Madrid striker a yellow card.
Spain held on to secure a famous victory, extending their unbeaten run to 37 games across all competitions – equalling Italy’s record.










