Dallas: Spain advance to World Cup final after defeating France
Spain have secured their place in the World Cup 2026 final after a 2-0 victory over France in Dallas. The European champions delivered a commanding performance, leaving many surprised by France’s inability to challenge their dominance in the semi-final match.
Despite France entering the semi-final as favourites, Spain, who are unbeaten in 37 matches, displayed their strength. Goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro sealed the win, ensuring Spain’s progression to the final.
Luis de la Fuente‘s side will now face either Argentina or England in Sunday’s final. This achievement follows their Nations League triumph in 2023 and Euro 2024 victory, marking a significant period of success for the team.
Spain’s commanding performance
Spain’s victory was built on a foundation of control and tactical superiority. The team maintained possession, pressed effectively, and showcased strong midfield play with short passing combinations. This approach proved too much for France, who struggled to create opportunities.
The first goal came from a penalty, converted by Mikel Oyarzabal, after Lucas Digne fouled Lamine Yamal. Pedro Porro then extended Spain’s lead with a well-executed finish, following a pass from Dani Olmo.
France’s attack, featuring players like Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, and Michael Olise, was largely contained. Michael Olise, who had been a key creative force in the tournament, was substituted in the second half after an ineffective performance.
Former Premier League champion Chris Sutton noted that Spain “outfought and outplayed this French team.” Roy Keane added that France’s individuals were “not playing as a team,” while praising Spain’s “brilliant” collective effort.
Spain’s defensive solidity was also a highlight, as they kept a clean sheet against France. This marks their sixth clean sheet in the tournament, demonstrating their defensive prowess throughout the competition.
De la Fuente’s impact and team unity
Luis de la Fuente, appointed in December 2022, has guided Spain to considerable success. His tenure has seen the team achieve a Nations League title and Euro 2024 glory, culminating in this World Cup final appearance.
De la Fuente expressed pride in his players, stating they deserved their place in the final due to their “effort, talent, sacrifice, trying to be a better version of ourselves.” He also mentioned receiving a phone call from King Felipe VI after the match.
Many players in the current squad have a history of playing under De la Fuente in Spain’s youth teams. Mikel Merino, Rodri, and Unai Simon were part of the team that won the European Under-19 Championship in 2015 under his guidance.
Spanish football expert Guillem Balague highlighted this long-standing connection, stating that De la Fuente started this journey “10 years ago with Oyarzabal, Dani Olmo, Rodri and Simon.” He added that this group “formed a family, and that feeling of being better together than individually is in their DNA.”
France’s manager, Didier Deschamps, acknowledged his team’s shortcomings, stating they were “a notch below our usual level technically.” He attributed the defeat primarily to their own fault, noting a lack of danger in attack and technical errors.
Spain’s journey in the World Cup included an initial 0-0 draw against Cape Verde and narrow wins against Portugal and Belgium in the knockout stages. However, they demonstrated their peak form against France, securing a 2-0 lead within the first hour of the match.
The upcoming final on Sunday will see Spain aim to add another major title to their recent successes.
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Source: bbc.com
