Spain secured a World Cup final berth after defeating France 2-0 in a semi-final match held in Arlington, Texas. The victory sees Spain advance to face either England or Argentina in the final.
France, who were considered strong contenders for the trophy, were unable to overcome Spain‘s performance. Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring with a penalty in the first half, and Pedro Porro extended the lead in the second half.
The match at Dallas Stadium saw its first significant moment when Salvadoran referee Ivan Barton awarded Spain a penalty after a challenge by France left-back Lucas Digne on winger Lamine Yamal. Oyarzabal converted the penalty, marking his fifth goal of the tournament and putting France behind for the first time in the competition.
Shortly after, France experienced a setback when centre-back William Saliba left the pitch due to a recurrence of a lower back injury, with Maxence Lacroix coming on as his replacement.
Spain nearly added another goal with intricate one-touch play, but Dayot Upamecano intervened to deny Fabian Ruiz. France concluded the first half without a shot on target, managing only two attempts overall.
Second Half Dominance
In an effort to bolster his team’s attack, France coach Didier Deschamps introduced Desire Doue for Bradley Barcola in the 57th minute. However, moments later, Spain increased their lead to 2-0 with a team goal. Defender Porro played a pass to Dani Olmo at the edge of the box, received the return ball, and calmly slotted it past France goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
Deschamps made further substitutions, bringing on Theo Hernandez and Rayan Cherki after the second hydration break, in an attempt to get back into the game. Despite these changes, France could not find a way past Spain‘s resolute defence.
Spain has conceded only once throughout the entire tournament, showcasing a combination of defensive strength and the attacking prowess of winger Yamal. The team is now one match away from potentially winning the first 48-team World Cup, aiming to emulate the success of the 2010 squad.
For France, the defeat in Texas is a significant disappointment, particularly after their performances in the World Cup across Canada, Mexico, and the United States. France had previously reached the last two World Cup finals, winning in 2018 and losing to Argentina in Qatar four years ago.
The France squad featured a strong attacking line-up, including Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé, Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele, and Michael Olise. Following this defeat, France will now compete in the third-place playoff. Coach Didier Deschamps is set to step down after the tournament, concluding a 14-year tenure.
Player Reactions and Team Ethos
Pedro Porro expressed his joy to Television Espanola, describing the victory as a “dream come true.” He credited the team for the success, stating, “This is all down to the team; I can’t take credit. I just congratulate everyone, as they played great games.” Porro also highlighted the team’s strategy: “We knew that to get close to the final we needed to have the ball. We knew that to counter their strengths was key. And we did that. So we’re really happy.”
Porro‘s goal was his second of the World Cup. He reflected on the balance between attacking and defending, noting that against Belgium, he primarily focused on defending Jérémy Doku. He remarked, “Not even in my wildest dreams could I have imagined this.”
The confidence within the Spain squad was evident, particularly after the second goal. The team’s control and mastery of the game ensured that France struggled to create opportunities. Unai Simón made a save from Ousmane Dembélé in the 94th minute, which was only France‘s second shot on target in the match.
Mikel Oyarzabal, who scored the opening penalty, also led Real Sociedad to their first Copa del Rey title in 34 years and another one five years later. His penalty conversion rate stands at 89.65% from 53 attempts, having missed six.
Towards the end of the match, Porro was substituted, watching from the bench as Spain maintained their lead. The atmosphere in the stands included former World Cup winners like Xavi Hernández, Iker Casillas, Carles Puyol, and Sergio Ramos. Porro, who celebrated Spain‘s 2010 World Cup victory as a child in Don Benito, Extremadura, is now on the verge of achieving a similar feat with his generation.
Porro emphasized the collective effort, stating, “This isn’t mine, it is all 26 of us.” He highlighted the contributions of players like Marc Cucurella, Aymeric Laporte, Pau Cubarsi, and Rodri. Coach Luis de la Fuente refers to the team as a “family,” and their performance made France appear ordinary. De la Fuente‘s philosophy, “Tranquility is power,” was evident in Spain‘s composed display.
Spain will now prepare for the World Cup final on Tuesday.
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Source: aljazeera.com
