Spain’s Mikel Oyarzabal scores their first purpose from the penalty spot on July 14, 2026. — Reuters Mikel Oyarzabal scores from penalty spot earlier than Porro added second.France fails to register a shot on track in first half.Spain to face both England or Argentina within the closing.
ARLINGTON: Spain snuffed out France’s dream of a 3rd World Cup triumph on Tuesday, taming their galaxy of forwards to win 2-0 and progress to a closing towards England or Argentina.
Didier Deschamps’ males have been sizzling favourites for the trophy after a string of breathtaking shows in the US however they met their match towards the slick European champions on the semi-final stage.
Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring for the 2010 winners with an emphatic penalty within the first half in Arlington, Texas, and Pedro Porro doubled their lead within the second half.
Shell-shocked France couldn’t discover a means again into the match regardless of their wealth of attacking riches.
The sport on the AT&T Stadium caught fireplace halfway via the primary half when Salvadoran referee Ivan Barton pointed to the penalty spot after a reckless problem by France left-back Lucas Digne on Spain winger Lamine Yamal.
Oyarzabal hammered the ball previous France goalkeeper Mike Maignan for his fifth purpose of the World Cup to go away France trailing for the primary time within the event.
Minutes later they suffered one other blow when centre-back William Saliba needed to go away the pitch after a recurrence of his decrease again harm, changed by Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix.
Spain went agonisingly near extending their lead after some dazzling one-touch soccer however Dayot Upamecano’s problem denied Fabian Ruiz.
France completed the half with no single shot on track, and simply two makes an attempt general.
Deschamps threw on Need Doue for Bradley Barcola within the 57th minute in a bid to supercharge his assault however a minute later they have been 2-0 down after a surprising group purpose for Luis de la Fuente’s males.
Defender Porro delivered a pointy move to the toes of Dani Olmo on the sting of the field and picked up the return ball earlier than coolly slotting previous Maignan.
Deschamps threw on Theo Hernandez and Rayan Cherki after the second hydration break in a determined bid to get again into the match.
However France couldn’t discover a means again into the sport towards strong opponents who refused to yield.
Spain have conceded simply as soon as in your complete event, combining defensive metal with the trickery of winger Yamal in assault.
They’re now simply 90 minutes away from profitable the first-ever 48-team World Cup as they search to match the achievement of Vicente del Bosque’s group 16 years in the past.
Defeat in Texas is a bitter blow for a France group that has enthralled followers on the World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the US.
France had reached the previous two World Cup finals, profitable in 2018 in Russia and shedding on penalties to Lionel Messi’s Argentina 4 years in the past in Qatar in an epic closing regardless of a hat-trick from Mbappe.
Actual Madrid ahead Mbappe was only one cog in a star-studded assault that additionally included Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele and the elegant Michael Olise.
Defeat leaves simply the third-place play-off for France coach Didier Deschamps, who’s stepping down after the event following 14 years in cost.
Kane v Messi
Within the different semi-final in Atlanta on Wednesday, England and Argentina will lock horns within the newest chapter of one of many sport’s most compelling rivalries.
The historical past of matches between the nations is peppered with incidents, set towards a lingering sovereignty dispute over the Falkland Islands, identified in Spanish because the Malvinas, within the South Atlantic Ocean.
The encounter takes place 40 years after Diego Maradona’s notorious “Hand of God” purpose helped Argentina to a 2-1 win on the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.
England captain Harry Kane, who’s competing towards Messi and Mbappe for the Golden Boot, stated his group wouldn’t be distracted by emotional baggage across the fixture.
“From a player’s point of view it’s us against a great team, who are smart, who are tactical, who know how to buy fouls, know how to slow the game down — like many different teams you come up against throughout your whole career,” Kane informed ITV.
