The vast stadium screen which hangs above the pitch here beamed the image of Lamine Yamal, the teenager whose thin hairband carried the number 08304. It’s the postcode for the working-class district of the Catalonian district which he calls home.
He was standing there with his teammates hearing the anthems played, looking for all the world as if he had just wandered in from that neighbourhood. But he set his nation on their way to the World Cup final on Tuesday night, winning the penalty to secure a lead from which they never looked back.
Spain dominated the midfield and choked off the supply line to France’s stellar forward line which had pitifully little chance to bring the team back.
It was a complete performance which telegraphed to Argentina and England what one of them will be up against in Sunday’s New Jersey final. Arguably the greatest Spain side we have ever seen.
Spain earned a 2-0 victory over favourites France to progress to their second World Cup final
Mikel Oyarzabal held his nerve from the spot to give Spain a deserved lead in the first half
Royal Rodri
He has been a superb presence at this World Cup and here was a performance befitting the Ballon d’Or he won in 2024. Rodri was the architect of this 2-0 win, though the Man of the Match Award – or ‘Superior Player’ as they’re calling it, again went to the wrong individual, in Pedro Porro.
Spain knew they were up against a superior attacking force than the one they possessed. But in Rodri, they had a force field who could close their midfield down.
When France began brightly, with Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise briefly threatening, Rodri simply cut off the central passing lanes. France were chasing down blind alleys. They were slowly suffocated.
Denied the space he tends to thrive in, Olise swapped wings with Dembele in an attempt to find some. On a most wretched night for France, space simply never came.
There will be much talk of Yamal before Sunday’s final but Rodri is the one who Spain’s opponents must devise a plan for.
Mbappe chasing shadows
Mbappe was oozing self-confidence once again as he walked out here last night in France’s stylish pinstripe shirt.
It’s all well and good having a front four like theirs but it doesn’t work when there is no-one to get the ball up to them. Mbappe was unable to land a blow because France were unable to land him opportunities. There were a few fleeting chances but he could not capitalise.
When Dembele sent a gorgeous diagonal ball across 30 yards to Mbappe in the first half, Spaniards swarmed around him. When Jules Kounde fizzed a low ball into Spain’s six-yard box, Mbappe was a yard or more behind it.
His barrelling run into the box just beyond the hour for a shot which sailed narrowly wide was a rare moment of jeopardy for an untroubled Spanish back four. He was booked before the end.
Kylian Mbappe was unable to land a blow on Spain after being starved of supply
Barcola gamble fails
Didier Deschamps had selected the PSG wide man Bradley Barcola instead of Desire Doue on the left because he is a more dynamic and attacking player, seen as more likely to bring danger to Spain. But Barcola could not set this pace alight because he couldn’t operate well in such tight spaces. A cut inside brought a shot which sailed high and wide.
Doue replaced him in the hope of something better and the France contingent in this stadium cheered at the sight of him. But nothing changed. Until that half chance Barcola carved open, France’s XG had been 0.01
Olmo and Oyarzabal collectivism
It was a brutal schooling for a France side who were played off the park and Spain’s so-called lesser lights were key. Mikel Oyarzabal, the Real Sociedad player, who coolly converted the penalty Yamal won, has scored 30 goals in 60 appearances for his country – yet would admit that he is just a solid pro. He was given his Sociedad debut by David Moyes.
There were some wonderful moments from Barca’s Dani Olmo, the Spain No 10, too. An intricate one-two between Porro and Olmo, with Olmo at its apex, brought Spain’s second.
No France defender had tracked the Porro as he doubled the lead. Olmo’s backheel to Yamal in tight space almost put Spain 2-0 up before half-time, too. Lamal’s cross found Fabian Ruiz, who put ball wide.
Pedro Porro doubled the after the break after a fine move from Spain against a below-par France
Lethal Lamal
Yamal was lurking, just out of Lucas Digne’s peripheral vision, as the defender struggled to get a ball under control and though his kick at him was accidental, it was a foul, nonetheless. A justifiable penalty.
Though he didn’t dominate the game and has had a relatively quiet tournament, he was always present, putting the fear of God into the France rearguard. Tracing a path along the dead ball after collecting possession from a blocked free kick. Getting in behind on a Porro pass early in the second half.
Lucas Digne gave away a penalty after kicking Lamine Yamal as he attempted to clear the ball
Yamal will look to lead Spain to World Cup glory as Mbappe and France lick their wounds
Any excuses for France?
It didn’t help their belief that they lost William Saliba early on. The Arsenal defender seemed to jar his back as he fell awkwardly.
Nor that the player who had initially looked like France’s own sentry, Adrien Rabiot, received an early yellow card which, with Yamal to police, left created too much of a risk for him to reappear for the second half.
But this defeat will take some stomaching for a French nation who expected far more on Bastille Day.
So where now for France?
They look into an uncertain future – defeated in three successive tournament semi-finals by a golden Spanish generation and looking to a new manager to help them find the way. Deschamps is stepping down. Zinedine Zidane is the overwhelming favourite to replace him.
It’s not the first time France will go home with lots of bouquets but no trophy. Michel Platini’s great team of 1982 and 1986 lost back-to-back semis, too. The new manager has Olise and Doue as the new wave of talent. Hugo Etikike and Warren Zaire-Emery may also develop as stars for Les Bleus. But there is little consolation here. Spain look like they might dominate for some time to come.
France now face an uncertain future having lost three successive semi-finals by Spain
The defeat will see Didier Deschamps’ era as France manager end in the third placed play-off
Lessons for England or Argentina?
Simply that it will take a monumental performance and perhaps a slice or two of luck in New Jersey to defeat Luis del Fuente’s side, which looks a more complete one than the World Cup winning squad of 2010.
They are excellent in possession and out of it. They have conceded just one goal at this tournament and were defensively strong when France came back at them near the end.
Rodri is such a force – shielding the defence and cutting off midfield supply lines. And though Spain lack the world class central striker of other nations, Yamal is a clear and present danger at all times.
