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Spain shattered France’s hopes of a third World Cup title on Tuesday with a dominant 2-0 semifinal victory in Arlington, Texas.
The clinical European champions neutralised France’s highly favoured, star-studded attack to book their place in the final, where they will face either England or Argentina.
The match turned midway through the first half when Salvadoran referee Ivan Barton awarded Spain a penalty following Lucas Digne’s reckless challenge on Lamine Yamal.
Mikel Oyarzabal capitalised on the opportunity, firing the ball past French goalkeeper Mike Maignan to put Spain ahead and put France behind for the first time in the tournament.
Spain secured their victory in the second half. Just moments after French coach Didier Deschamps substituted Désiré Doué onto the pitch to spark his offence, Spain responded with a brilliant team goal.
Dani Olmo and Pedro Porro combined beautifully, with Porro striking the decisive second goal to seal the win.
This victory cements Spain’s defensive mastery, making them the first team in World Cup history to keep six clean sheets in a single tournament.
Historic Rivalry
The team also extended their unbeaten run to 37 games, equalling the European record.
Spain manager Luis de la Fuente praised his players’ commitment, solidarity, and talent, noting that they make difficult achievements look easy.
The loss marks a devastating end for Deschamps, who will step down after 14 years in charge.
While Deschamps accepted responsibility for the defeat, he also questioned whether referee Barton possessed the quality required to officiate a World Cup semifinal.
Attention now shifts to Atlanta, where England and Argentina renew their historic rivalry in the second semifinal.
England captain Harry Kane dismissed any historical distractions, emphasising that his squad remains focused on defeating a highly tactical Argentinian side as he continues his chase for the tournament’s Golden Boot.
