Deal done: Spain beat France 2-0 in Arlington last night to secure their place in the World Cup final, Luis de la Fuente’s 4-2-3-1 overpowering D. Deschamps’ matching shape and shutting down Kylian Mbappé’s threat.
The evening opened with a minute of silence for the victims of the 2016 Nice attack, then turned cagey. Adrien Rabiot went into the book by the 9th minute, a sign of the midfield pressure Rodri and Fabián Ruiz were already exerting. France’s passing lanes narrowed, their tempo slowed, and the ball kept finding red shirts in the half-spaces.
Spain took the lead in the 22nd minute when Mikel Oyarzabal converted from the spot. No frills, no nerves, just the clarity Spain have shown throughout this tournament. Eight minutes later William Saliba was forced off, Maxence Lacroix thrown on cold at the 30th minute. The substitution rippled through France’s back line: Upamecano slid left, Digne held even deeper, and Spain’s forwards kept pulling them wider.
Marc Cucurella’s yellow card in the 31st minute was the only blemish on an otherwise disciplined Spanish press. Dani Olmo and Álex Baena tracked runners, Pedro Porro was aggressive without overcommitting, and Unai Simón stayed authoritative at claims and restarts.
Deschamps reacted at the break, Manu Koné replacing Rabiot at the 46th minute, but the dynamic barely shifted. Désiré Doué arrived at the 57th minute, Spain responded within seconds: Dani Olmo broke lines, slipped inside, and Pedro Porro finished the move in the 58th minute. The assist was measured, the strike clinical, and the semifinal was effectively sealed.
From that point Spain managed the match. Oyarzabal made way for Ferran Torres at the 74th minute, double midfield reinforcement followed on 78 with Pedri and Mikel Merino, and Marcos Llorente plus Nico Williams arrived at the 84th minute to close it out. France’s double change at the 72nd minute brought Theo Hernández and Rayan Cherki, who added some spark on the left, but without incision. Mbappé, isolated all night, was booked for violent conduct in the 86th minute amid growing frustration. France finished with ten attempts but only three on target and an expected goals tally of 0.30. Spain were happy to absorb, counter, and reset, playing the game, not the occasion.
Rodri bossed the central corridor, winning 11 of 15 duels. Pau Cubarsí’s timing alongside Aymeric Laporte was immaculate. Simón made three saves and never flinched. For France, Aurélien Tchouaméni competed bravely, but so much of their play died around the Spain penalty area, either at Laporte’s feet or because Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé found no lane inside.
Key numbers
- Possession: France 49 percent, Spain 51 percent
- Shots on target: France 3, Spain 2
- Expected goals: France 0.30, Spain 1.63
- Corners: France 7, Spain 1
- Saves: Mike Maignan 0, Unai Simón 3
- Passing accuracy: France 84 percent (396 of 473), Spain 86 percent (428 of 500)
Spain now switch to recovery mode before traveling north for the final, opponent to be confirmed after tonight’s second semifinal. Understand the staff will hold an internal debrief this evening before light work tomorrow. France must regroup fast for the third-place game, with Deschamps expected to rotate after such a flat display.
