Spain booked their place in the FIFA World Cup final for the first time in 16 years with a commanding 2-0 victory over France, producing a performance that combined tactical discipline, relentless pressing and clinical finishing. Goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro sealed the win as Luis de la Fuente’s side completely controlled the contest against one of the tournament favourites.
The breakthrough arrived in the 18th minute after a costly mistake from Lucas Digne. Attempting to clear the ball, the French full-back caught Lamine Yamal with a wild swing inside the penalty area, leaving the referee with little choice but to point to the spot. Oyarzabal stepped up confidently and beat a fully stretched Mike Maignan to hand Spain the lead. The striker’s fifth goal of the tournament also made him Spain’s highest scorer in this World Cup.
France’s evening went from bad to worse ten minutes later when William Saliba was forced off with what appeared to be a back injury. The Arsenal defender was replaced by Crystal Palace centre-back Maxence Lacroix, disrupting Didier Deschamps’ defensive setup at a crucial stage of the match.
Despite falling behind, France struggled to respond. Spain’s aggressive press denied them any rhythm in midfield, while Kylian Mbappe remained largely anonymous throughout the opening half, rarely finding space to influence the game.
The Spanish defence continued to frustrate France after the restart. In the 43rd minute, goalkeeper Unai Simon showcased excellent awareness by rushing out of his penalty area to execute a perfectly timed sliding challenge, preventing Mbappe from breaking clear on the counter.
Spain doubled their advantage in the 58th minute with a brilliantly worked team goal. Pedro Porro exchanged passes with Dani Olmo before racing into the box and calmly slotting his finish beyond Maignan. The move reflected Spain’s confidence in possession, with Porro capping another outstanding display in what has been an impressive World Cup campaign for the Tottenham full-back.
From there, Spain dictated the tempo with authority. Their midfield dominated possession, repeatedly forcing France into errors and preventing them from creating meaningful chances. Even with 75 minutes gone, France failed to register a single shot on target, underlining Spain’s complete control of the match.
The frustration within the French camp became increasingly visible as the game wore on. Mbappe, unable to make an impact against Spain’s disciplined backline, was booked in the 88th minute after an unnecessary collision with Unai Simon, a moment that summed up France’s disappointing evening.
The final whistle confirmed a deserved victory for Spain, who delivered one of their most complete performances of the tournament. Their balance between defensive organisation and attacking fluency left France with few answers. La Roja march into the World Cup final for the first time since 2010, moving one step closer to lifting football’s biggest prize once again.
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