Image source: Alamy Stock Photo
France’s hopes of winning a third World Cup title were dashed in Dallas on Tuesday when they succumbed 2-0 at the hands of Spain in the first semifinal.
Les Bleus had been the most exciting and impressive team at the 2026 tournament, but they were comprehensively outplayed by an outstanding La Roja. Luis de la Fuente’s team will face either England or Argentina in the final in New Jersey on Sunday.
After a cagey opening, Spain earned a penalty in the 20th minute when Lamine Yamal came on the blind side of Lucas Digne as the full-back was looking to volley a clearance – taking a kick to the thigh and convincing referee Ivan Barton to point to the spot.
Mikel Oyarzabal confidently struck home from 12 yards, beating goalkeeper Mike Maignan’s left hand for a 1-0 lead to La Roja in the 22nd minute.
France suffered a setback on the half-hour mark when key centre-back William Saliba was forced off with injury, being replaced by Maxence Lacroix.
Les Bleus pushed for a leveller before the break and built up some attacking pressure, but without providing any kind of real test for Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon.
France made another change at the start of the second half, swapping out the yellow-carded Adrien Rabiot for Manu Kone in midfield, and Desire Doue soon followed, taking the place of Bradley Barcola.
However, La Roja continued to look the more fluent and cohesive team, and they doubled their lead in the 58th minute: Pedro Porro played a smart one-two with Dani Olmo before steering a low shot past Maignan for 2-0.
France looked for a way back into the game, but efforts from Kylian Mbappe, Doue and Ousmane Dembele only drew relatively straightforward saves from Simon, as Spain’s defence once again demonstrated their unrivalled resilience and organisation.
La Roja will return to the World Cup final for the first time since winning the tournament in South Africa in 2010, while Les Bleus will play in the third-place playoff in Miami on Saturday.
France 0
Spain (1) 2 (M. Oyarzabal 22’ pen, P. Porro 58’)
France: M. Maignan, J. Kounde, D. Upamecano, W. Saliba (M. Lacroix 30’), L. Digne (T. Hernandez 72’), A. Tchouameni, A. Rabiot (M. Kone 46’), O. Dembele, M. Olise (R. Cherki 72’), B. Barcola (D. Doue 57’), K. Mbappe
Spain: U. Simon, P. Porro (M. Llorente 84’), P. Cubarsi, A. Laporte, M. Cucurella, Rodri, F. Ruiz (Pedri 78’), L. Yamal, D. Olmo (M. Merino 78’), A. Baena (N. Williams 84’), M. Oyarzabal (F. Torres 74’)
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