16 July,2026 08:50 AM IST | Arlington (USA) | AFP
Luis de la Fuente. Pics/AFP
Spain ended France's dream of a third World Cup triumph on Tuesday, taming their star-studded attack in a 2-0 victory to reach the final.
Didier Deschamps's men were hot favourites to lift the trophy after a string of breathtaking attacking displays, but they met their match against the slick European champions in the semi-finals.
Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring for the 2010 winners with an emphatic penalty in the first half and Pedro Porro doubled their lead in the second half.
Shell-shocked France could not find a way back into the match despite their attacking riches.
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente saluted his players as the "best team in the world".
"We started almost four years ago with an idea and we've been faithful to that idea and it's brought us here," De la Fuente said.
"Today we faced one of the best national teams in the world, but in front of them they had the best team in the world. That is different."
De la Fuente is now contemplating Spain's first World Cup final appearance since 2010. "These players deserve everything - day after day they've showed their commitment, their solidarity, their generosity, their talent. They make the difficult look easy," De la Fuente added of his team.
The game caught fire midway through the first half when Salvadoran referee Ivan Barton pointed to the penalty spot after a reckless challenge by France's left-back Lucas Digne on Spain winger Lamine Yamal. Oyarzabal hammered the ball past France goalkeeper Mike Maignan for his fifth goal of the World Cup to leave France trailing for the first time in the tournament.
Deschamps threw on Desire Doue for Bradley Barcola in the 57th minute in a bid to supercharge his attack but a minute later they were 2-0 down after a stunning team goal for Spain involving Dani Olmo and defender Porro. Defeat in Texas is a bitter blow for a France team that reached the past two finals, winning in 2018 and finishing as runners-up four years ago.
Six
No. of clean sheets for Spain in the ongoing World Cup - they become the first team in World Cup history to achieve this feat in a single edition
17
No. of penalties scored by Spain in World Cups - the most by any team
Two
France's losing margin on Tuesday - their biggest defeat in a World Cup since a 0-2 loss to Mexico in 2010
Five
No. of goals scored by Mikel Oyarzabal in the ongoing World Cup - he becomes the third Spanish player to score five or more goals in a single edition after David Villa (5 in 2010) and Emilio Butragueno (5 in 1986)
Five
Pedro Porro is only the fifth defender to score in multiple World Cup knockout games in a single tournament in the last 60 years; he netted one each against Austria (round of 32) and France (semi-final)
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