Spain secures World Cup final spot after defeating France 2-0
Spain has advanced to the World Cup final after a 2-0 victory over France in a semi-final match. The European champions delivered a strong performance, securing their place in only their second World Cup final. This result means France will now compete in the third-place play-off.
Many had considered France as favourites for the tournament, with players such as Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, and Michael Olise contributing to their attacking strength. However, Spain, who are also European champions and have an unbeaten streak of 37 matches, equal to a record, emerged victorious.
Luis de la Fuente’s team, despite a somewhat quiet run in the tournament that included a draw against debutants Cape Verde in their opening match, appears to have peaked at a crucial time. They have maintained clean sheets in six of their seven games leading up to the final. Their next opponent will be either Argentina or England.
Spain’s Dominant Performance
The match saw Spain take a 2-0 lead within the first hour. Mikel Oyarzabal scored from a penalty after Lucas Digne fouled Lamine Yamal, who was attempting to clear the ball. Later, Pedro Porro connected with Dani Olmo to score the second goal following a fluid play. These were Spain’s only two attempts on target in the match.
France’s attack struggled to make an impact, managing only two shots, none of which were on target when Porro scored. Michael Olise, who was the tournament’s top creator, was substituted in the 72nd minute, highlighting the team’s offensive difficulties. William Saliba was also forced off due to injury and replaced by Maxence Lacroix.
According to former Premier League champion Chris Sutton, Spain “flattened France” and “outfought and outplayed this French team.” Roy Keane, another Premier League winner, noted that France was not playing as a cohesive unit, despite having brilliant individual players. Former France full-back Gael Clichy stated that while it might not be the most amazing Spanish side, the best team won and controlled all phases of the game. French World Cup winner Patrick Vieira agreed that Spain dominated “every single aspect” and won tactically by stopping Olise.
Spain’s performance was characterised by their known principles of possession, counter-pressing, a dominant midfield, and short passing combinations. Their midfield trio of Fabian Ruiz, Rodri, and Dani Olmo effectively controlled the game, particularly Olmo, who played as a roaming number 10, creating challenges for France’s midfield and defence. His ability to drop deep and resist pressure was central to many of Spain’s attacks.
For Spain’s second goal, Olmo provided the assist. This goal also highlighted Spain’s superiority around the French full-backs. France’s defensive block was largely passive, with players defending zonally rather than tracking individuals. Spain exploited this by committing full-backs to attack, causing the French full-backs to defend against two players simultaneously: Spain’s winger and full-back. Desire Doue failed to track Pedro Porro’s attacking run, which led to the goal.
De la Fuente’s Leadership and Team Spirit
Luis de la Fuente, who was appointed Spain boss in December 2022, has guided the team to the World Cup final after previously leading them to a Nations League triumph in 2023 and Euro 2024 glory. His appointment was initially viewed as a low-key federation decision, given his previous roles with the nation’s under-19s, under-21s, and under-23s. However, the 65-year-old has responded emphatically to any doubts.
De la Fuente expressed that his players deserved to be in the final due to their “effort, talent, sacrifice, trying to be a better version of ourselves.” He also stated that the team has “recaptured the spirit of 2010,” referring to when Spain became world champions under Vicente del Bosque. The character of the team is evident in the fact that players who did not participate in the match stayed behind to train afterwards.
Many of De la Fuente’s players have been with him since their youth team days, fostering a strong connection. For instance, Mikel Merino’s first international title with De la Fuente was in 2015, playing alongside Rodri and Unai Simon in a European Under-19 Championship victory. This long-standing relationship has contributed to a strong collective identity within the squad, where the feeling of being better together than individually is ingrained.
Spanish football expert Guillem Balague noted that De la Fuente started this journey a decade ago with players like Oyarzabal, Dani Olmo, Rodri, and Simon, who won the under-19 and under-21 Euros together. This continuity has allowed the team to develop a strong sense of family and collective play. Balague suggested that the winner of the World Cup played today, implying Spain’s strong form.
Didier Deschamps, France’s coach, acknowledged that his players were devastated and that the team was technically below its usual level, facing an opponent that had a strong grasp of the game. He attributed the loss primarily to France’s own shortcomings and technical errors on passes that could have led to scoring opportunities. The third-place play-off awaits France on Saturday.
Spain’s incredible statistics include equalling Italy’s record for the longest unbeaten run in international football with 37 matches. Furthermore, Spain is the first team in World Cup history to keep six clean sheets in a single edition of the tournament. The xG figure they faced against France (0.3) was the lowest by a nation in a semi-final tie in the competition since Brazil against Sweden in 1994.
Lamine Yamal has never lost a game for Spain and has started 12 combined games at the World Cup and Euros, winning all of them, which is the best 100% win rate for any European player across both competitions when starting. The five European players with the most combined appearances at the World Cup and European Championship without ever losing all play for Spain: Aymeric Laporte (22), Oyarzabal (20), Fabian Ruiz (16), Mikel Merino (14), and Yamal (14).
De la Fuente received a phone call from King Felipe VI after the match, acknowledging the team’s achievement. The final will take place on Sunday.
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Source: bbc.com
