Arlington: Spain’s defensive prowess and swagger were just too much for an attacking trio led by France great Kylian Mbappe, and just enough to get the 2010 champions into another World Cup final.
The Spanish team managed a sixth shutout in seven games so far, winning 2-0 in the semifinals Tuesday against one of the most prolific scorers in World Cup history.
Teenager Lamine Yamal certainly was correct when he said France should fear Spain. That despite FIFA’s top-ranked team being led by Mbappe – their captain with 20 goals in his 20 World Cup games before the semifinals – Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise, who has a tournament-high five assists.
They were facing the best team in the world, Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said of his players.
Mikel Oyarzabal scored from the penalty spot after a heady play by Yamal drew a foul, and Pedro Porro added another goal to put Spain in its second World Cup final.
A day after his 19th birthday, Yamal was denied a goal on a close offside call that came soon after Porro’s give-and-go with Dani Olmo in the 58th minute had put Spain up 2-0. But it was Yamal’s smart play against a veteran defender that gave Spain the early lead.
Spain will face either defending champion Argentina or England Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey, across the river from New York City.
So difficult to get to this moment, but we want more, Spain midfielder Rodri said. We want to win this World Cup.
After trying to become only the third team to reach three consecutive World Cup finals, France instead will play in the third-place game in Miami Gardens, Florida, Saturday.
Spain has been able to defend well, departing France coach Didier Deschamps said through a translator. They’ve closed out all the spaces, and also we’ve made some technical mistakes. So it is difficult to create problems when the technical level is below standard.
Argentina and England play Wednesday in Atlanta in the second powerhouse semifinal match.
This win on soccer’s biggest stage marked the third summer in a row that Spain beat France in a tournament semifinal match. Yamal scored in a 2-1 win in the 2024 European Championship semifinals just days before his 17th birthday, and La Roja won 5-4 in Nations League play last year.
Yamal was quick to point out that France should be concerned after Spain’s quarterfinal win over Belgium set up another semifinal matchup.
It’s a team that loves to have control of the game, control of the ball. That’s what we let them do, said Mbappe, who got none of his three shots on target. It’s difficult when you don’t change the play of Spain.
Spain has outscored opponents 12-1 since a scoreless draw against surprising Cape Verde to open group play. The lone goal allowed by goalkeeper Unai Simon was in the quarterfinal game against Belgium that snapped his World Cup record of 650 scoreless minutes.
This World Cup run has extended Spain’s unbeaten streak in regular time to 37 matches (28 wins and nine draws) since March 2024. That broke the country’s previous record of 35 in a row from 2007-09.
The loss broke France’s record-matching streak of six consecutive World Cup wins, which the team also accomplished in the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.
Oyarzabal’s penalty kick in the 22nd minute came after Yamal drew a foul when kicked by defender Lucas Digne.
After a poor first touch with his head, Digne was trying to clear the ball when Yamal raced in from behind to challenge in the penalty area. The ball hit off the elbow of the leaping teen before he was kicked by Digne, playing in his 63rd game for France only six days before his 33rd birthday.
Oyarzabal’s fifth goal of this year’s World Cup marked the first time either team had trailed in their seven games in this tournament. It was his 30th goal in 60 international games for Spain.
For the second goal, Porro broke free and received a pass back from Olmo, who got the touch just before getting knocked off his feet by defender Dayot Upamecano.
We knew that we’re a very tough team, we’re doing things really well, Porro said.
France allowed only two goals in its first six games in this tournament.
Spain had two other real scoring chances in the first half.
There was a free kick from just beyond the box after Adrien Rabiot drew a yellow card for a foul on Olmo in the eighth minute. Alex Baena’s kick went directly into the wall of French players.
After France goalkeeper Mike Maignan’s attempted clearing pass in the 38th minute instead went straight to Baena, there were several quick passes before Fabian Ruiz’s close-range shot was denied on a nifty play by Upamecano.
Mbappe, who is tied with Argentina great Lionel Messi with a tournament-high eight goals and leads the race for the Golden Boot on the assist tiebreaker, still has the third-place match to add to his tally. Messi has two games left in his sixth World Cup to try to win the Golden Boot and also increase his overall record of 21 goals at the tournament.
As the captain, I have to take all the responsibility, and I have no problem with that, Mbappe said.
