Spain secure World Cup final spot after defeating France in Dallas
Spain have advanced to their first World Cup final since 2010, following a 2-0 victory over France in Dallas. The Spanish side will now face either England or Argentina in the final, set to take place in New Jersey on Sunday. Goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro sealed the win, with France struggling to make an impact throughout the semi-final clash.
The match saw Spain largely dictate play, particularly after taking an early lead. France, despite being considered by some as potential champions, found their attack stifled, with Kylian Mbappé notably isolated. This defeat means Mbappé will have to wait another four years for a chance at the global title.
First-Half Dominance and Penalty Controversy
Spain‘s opening goal came from a penalty midway through the first half. The incident involved Lucas Digne and Lamine Yamal. Digne conceded the penalty after a challenge on Yamal, who had nudged the ball past him. While the on-field decision by referee Iván Barton stood, there were discussions regarding whether Yamal had committed a handball prior to the foul.
According to rules analyst Christina Unkel, the contact on Yamal‘s sleeve would not be considered a handling offence, thus supporting the penalty decision. Gary Neville, however, criticised Digne‘s awareness, suggesting the defender should have been more conscious of Yamal‘s position. Oyarzabal calmly converted the spot-kick past Mike Maignan, giving Spain the lead.
Following the goal, France faced further disruption when William Saliba went off injured, replaced by Maxence Lacroix. Spain maintained control, preventing France from establishing any significant midfield presence. France‘s attempts to build attacks often faltered, with Ousmane Dembélé, a Ballon d’Or winner, unable to impose himself on the game.
Spain Solidifies Lead in Second Half
The second half saw Spain continue their command of the match. France made a change at the start of the period, with Manu Koné replacing Adrien Rabiot, who had been booked early on. However, this substitution did not shift the momentum, as Spain remained in control, with Oyarzabal having another shot go over the bar.
As the hour mark approached, France introduced Désiré Doué, replacing Bradley Barcola, whose early promise had not translated into sustained threat. Despite the changes, Spain found their second goal through Pedro Porro. The goal was a result of well-worked play, with Dani Olmo returning a pass to Porro, who finished clinically to extend Spain‘s lead.
A potential third goal for Spain by Lamine Yamal was disallowed due to a narrow offside call. Mbappé‘s first notable contribution came in the 64th minute, with Unai Simón batting away his cross-shot. Later, Marc Cucurella deflected a drive from Mbappé just wide. Despite these efforts, France could not mount a comeback, and Spain comfortably saw out the match.
Spain‘s defence, featuring Pau Cubarsi and Aymeric Laporte, proved formidable, limiting France‘s attacking options. Rodri delivered an outstanding performance in midfield, dominating his opponents. Unai Simón secured his sixth clean sheet in seven matches, making a vital clearance before Mbappé could capitalise. Pedro Porro‘s goal marked his third goal involvement in the tournament, contributing significantly to Spain‘s journey to the final.
Mikel Oyarzabal‘s penalty was his fifth goal of the tournament, highlighting his memorable World Cup campaign. Ferran Torres, Mikel Merino, Pedri, Marcos Llorente, and Nico Williams were introduced as substitutes for Spain in the later stages of the game, helping to secure the victory. France‘s substitutes, including Maxence Lacroix, Manu Koné, Désiré Doué, Rayan Cherki, and Theo Hernandez, were unable to change the outcome.
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Source: theguardian.com
Reuben Castle is the Sports News Writer at News GB, covering rugby union, golf and boxing with six years of reporting experience. He moved from print into digital sport news. He holds a degree in Journalism from Coventry University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Coventry, he follows the Open Championship and amateur boxing. “Accuracy first; the analysis can follow.”
