Spain delivered a commanding performance to eliminate France and secure their place in the World Cup final, dismantling their rivals with a display that electrified the tournament and underlined their championship credentials. The reigning European champions seized the initiative at the halfway stage, with Mikel Oyarzabal converting a penalty after Lucas Digne felled Lamine Yamal inside the area, setting the tone for an evening of Spanish dominance.
After a tense start in which France’s Kylian Mbappé carved out the only early chance with a trademark surging run, Spain’s defensive resilience kept the superstar at bay. The breakthrough arrived midway through the first half: Digne’s mistimed challenge on Yamal was swiftly punished by the clinical Oyarzabal, who dispatched his fifth goal of the tournament past Mike Maignan with trademark composure.
France’s woes deepened just minutes later as William Saliba limped off, further destabilising Didier Deschamps’ side. Spain nearly capitalised immediately, but Fabián Ruiz could not convert Yamal’s inviting cross. Seeking to reverse the tide, Deschamps introduced Manu Koné for Adrien Rabiot before the interval and swapped Bradley Barcola for Désiré Doué early in the second half. However, these adjustments failed to disrupt Spain’s fluidity.
The second half saw Spain accelerate, and Pedro Porro extended their advantage with a precise finish after a slick one-two exchange with Dani Olmo, leaving the French defence exposed. Minutes later, Yamal found the net with a spectacular strike, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside in a marginal decision.
France struggled to mount any serious challenge in the closing stages. Mbappé’s deflected effort represented their best opportunity, while Doué’s late attempt was thwarted by Unai Simón, who recovered swiftly to preserve Spain’s clean sheet.
Spain’s triumph not only sends them to the final in New York on Sunday, where they will face either Argentina or England, but also positions Luis de la Fuente’s men to potentially add the World Cup to their current status as European champions—a feat achieved only once before in their history. Meanwhile, France are relegated to the third-place playoff, a fixture that will mark Didier Deschamps’ final game at the helm.
As the Spanish squad celebrates a remarkable victory, the eyes of the football world now turn to the forthcoming final, with Spain just one step away from an extraordinary international double.
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