Spain have sealed a spot in the FIFA World Cup final after comprehensively defeating France 2-0 in the first semi-final at Dallas. This will be only the second time Spain play a FIFA World Cup final, 16 years after their first appearance.
They will await the winner of the second semi-final between Argentina and England tomorrow.
Pedro Porro had doubled Spain’s lead against France in the second half after Mikel Oyarzabal had given them a 1-0 lead in the first half. Oyarzabal had scored in the 22nd minute from the penalty spot after Lucas Digne brought Lamine Yamal down in the penalty box with a reckless swing of the leg.
Things went from bad to worse for France as central defence mainstay William Saliba soon hobbled off injured. Yamal had also put the ball into the French net, only to see the linesman raise the offside flag.
France vs Spain Football Updates
| Score | FRA 0-2 ESP |
| Half | Second half |
| Current Time | Full-time |
| France XI | Maignan, Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, Digne, Tchouameni, Rabiot, Dembele, Olise, Barcola, Mbappe |
| Spain XI | Simon, Porro, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella, Rodri, Fabian, Yamal, Olmo, Baena, Oyarzabal |
| Venue | Dallas Stadium |
| Big moments of game | 22nd minute: Spain took a 1-0 lead after Digne gave away a penalty by fouling Lamine Yamal; 35th minute: Baena almost doubled Spain’s lead after almost getting to a hoicked pass, but he was offside; 38th minute: Spain’s forwards jumped on a loose ball from France keeper and Fabian Ruiz’s shot was just wide or Spain could have gone 2-0 up; 42nd minute: Unai Simon rused off his line and cleared a through ball for Mbappe before the Frenchman could reach there; 51st minute: A superb through ball from the right flank releases Yamal, but the Spain star has strayed offside so even if his shot wasn’t smothered by the France keeper, it would not have stood; 58th minute: Pedro Porro doubles Spain’s lead, France in a fix. 61st minute: Yamal has scored! But it won’t stand as he’s ruled offside, not for the first time tonight 67th minute: Mbappe comes within inches of scoring France’s first goal after flashing a dangerous shot at goal that takes a nick off Cucurella’s foot 88th minute: Yamal gets into a tangle with Hernandez and falls inside the French box, but the ref waves it away; 90+6th minute: Dembele, who has been quiet all evening, takes a stinging shot at Spain goal, but it’s palmed away by Simon |
It was a clash between arguably the two best teams of the tournament thus far, with both France and Spain mesmerising the crowds with their passing and attacking play as they saw teams off over the course of this year’s tournament. However, Spain comprehensively outplayed France in the semis, keeping the feared front four of France, including Golden Boot co-leader Kylian Mbappe, quiet.