So, in a state with a history of Spanish conquest, history could be repeating itself for Spain. As in Euro 2024, they beat France in a semi-final. As in 2010, they could follow victory in the European Championships by doing the double, by adding a World Cup. Deep in the heart of Texas, Luis de la Fuente’s side took a sizeable step towards greatness.
Didier Deschamps had pronounced them as the favourites to win the World Cup. It turns out that was not just kidology. As the France manager’s epic reign came in effect to an end, it was without a second World Cup or a third consecutive final. Kylian Mbappe may yet go on to become the greatest World Cup goalscorer and player; but not yet, not in Dallas, not now.
Instead, he was outscored on the day by Mikel Oyarzabal, the unheralded striker whose goal decided Euro 2024 and who set Spain towards a still greater triumph. The Real Sociedad captain had an unlikely ally. Pedro Porro, fresh from a Premier League relegation battle with Tottenham, scored a goal to take his side into a World Cup final. But Spain need no reminding that defenders can chip in: their previous World Cup semi-final victory, 16 years ago, came courtesy of Carles Puyol. Watching on, he must have remembered; so, surely, did Sergio Ramos and Xavi, alongside him.
De la Fuente’s team are less defined by tiki-taka but they nevertheless prospered by exerting control. They are borrowing from the 2010 formula, global domination secured by reigning European champions who were immune to conceding.
An almost impenetrable defence has been breached only by Belgium’s Charles de Ketelaere. France, with their previously fabulous front four, were supposed to provide the stiffest test. But they were not the unstoppable force: not when pitted against the immovable object of the Spanish rearguard. After 35 minutes, France had an xG of 0.01. By the interval, it had crept up to 0.04. The numbers showed how negligible their threat was.
Nevertheless, France may feel Spain were scarcely more potent at the start. This was a game that swung on a mistake: sadly for Lucas Digne, he committed it. The left-back has had a fine tournament but a duel with Lamine Yamal always offered the possibility of Spanish success. So it transpired, even if not in the manner that may have been anticipated.
Digne headed the ball up in the air and, preparing to clear, not noticing his opponent, volleyed Lamine Yamal instead. A day after his 19th birthday, the teenager got a kick in the ribs and Spain the gift of a penalty. Oyarzabal, who has an impeccable record of scoring in finals, this time struck in the semi-final instead, drilling in his spot kick for his fifth goal of the World Cup.
It was far from Lamine Yamal’s only contribution. The Barcelona winger has still only scored once in this World Cup – he added a terrific finish for what he thought was Spain’s third goal, only to be flagged offside – but he was excellent. He also collected a caution for hacking down Mbappe after tracking back. If nothing else, it was a sign of commitment.
Oyarzabal’s opener had put France in uncharted territory, at least as far as this tournament was concerned. It was the first goal they had conceded in the knockout stages and the first time they had been behind in the World Cup in four years. They had started slowly in the 2022 final. They did again in the 2026 semi-final. This time, their response was muted; unlike against Argentina in Qatar, there was no dramatic comeback.
Instead, they stopped resembling the best team in the tournament. They were ineffectual in attack, Michael Olise was almost anonymous, Ousmane Dembele provided one wonderful diagonal pass but little else and Bradley Barcola was kept quiet by Porro. Mbappe stirred in the second half, with two shots in as many minutes. Unai Simon had to save from Desire Doue but was largely untroubled.
He was well protected with Rodri the dominant force in midfield. Spain provided the game’s classiest move, when Fabian Ruiz could have doubled the lead after a delightful combination between a series of players, meeting Lamine Yamal’s cross only for Dayot Upamecano to deflect his shot wide.
Meanwhile, France had the sense that, bit by bit, everything was going wrong. Adrien Rabiot collected an early booking, risked a second on the stroke of half-time and was removed at the break. No sooner had Oyarzabal scored then William Saliba went off, feeling his back. No sooner had Deschamps sent for Doue then Porro doubled Spain’s lead.
The Tottenham right-back played a one-two with Dani Olmo, with no one tracking his run – Digne and Doue looking the culprits – and slotted a shot beyond Mike Maignan. And in a way, that summed it up: France were caught off guard by Spain. They lost to the cleverer, more cohesive team. It is au revoir to Deschamps’s France, with a sense of what might have been. It is Spain, though, who could regain the World Cup.
