- Spain played in a disciplined and good manner to take down one of the favorites of the tournament.
- Spain broke the deadlock in the middle of the first half as Mikel Oyarzabal calmly took the penalty.
- For Mbappe, it was another heartbreaking end to a World Cup campaign.
Spain qualified for the finals of the FIFA World Cup 2026 after achieving an amazing victory over France with a score of 2-0 and ruining the chances of France winning the World Cup while destroying the hopes of Kylian Mbappe to hold the cup again in his hands.
Spain played in a disciplined and good manner to take down one of the favorites of the tournament and reach the finals for the first time after winning the World Cup back in 2010.
France came to the match as the highest-scoring team in the tournament, but Spain perfectly executed the tactics of Luis de la Fuente from the first seconds of the match.
ALSO READ: William Saliba Walks Off Injured After Just 30 Minutes in France vs Spain World Cup Semi-final
Spain broke the deadlock in the middle of the first half as Mikel Oyarzabal calmly took the penalty awarded after Lamine Yamal was fouled by Lucas Digne. It was the 5th goal scored by Oyarzabal in the tournament, so it was a very significant moment in one of the most important matches in the tournament.
Moreover, it was not the best day for France since the Arsenal defender William Saliba had to leave the pitch due to an injury about 30 minutes into the game, which resulted in Maxence Lacroix replacing him.
The change in defense disrupted the plans of Didier Deschamps, resulting in Spain occupying the field.
After the game resumed France tried their best to score a goal to even the match. Mbappe, Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembele were all trying to penetrate Spain’s strong defense but failed as Unai Simón and the Spanish defenders were in great shape.
Spain was able to score a decisive goal in the second half when Pedro Porro scored his second goal of the game.
The goal effectively ended France's hopes as the European champions comfortably managed the closing stages to seal a memorable victory.
ALSO READ: France Vs Lineups OUT: Mbappe To Start, Pedri Benched For Semi-final Clash; Check Here
For Mbappe, it was another heartbreaking end to a World Cup campaign. After losing the 2022 final to Argentina, the French captain once again fell short of football's biggest prize despite enjoying another outstanding tournament.
France had looked unstoppable throughout the competition, but Spain proved to be the side capable of halting their charge when it mattered the most.
Spain will now head into the FIFA World Cup 2026 final full of confidence, where they will face the winner of the other semi-final between England and Argentina.