Spain 2-0 France: Oyarzabal, Porro Reach Final

Spain did not just beat France, they took the game away from them. A 2-0 win in Dallas that never felt as close as two goals suggests sent a Spain side built on control into the World Cup final, and left the tournament’s most feared attack unable to lay a glove on them. The semi-final we had leant France’s way went the other direction, and it was not down to fine margins.

What happened in Spain 2-0 France?

Spain got the opening their pressure deserved on 22 minutes. Lucas Digne mishit a clearance and then caught Lamine Yamal, who had raced in behind him, and the referee gave the penalty. Mikel Oyarzabal sent Mike Maignan the wrong way for 1-0, the first time all tournament France had trailed in a match.

The second, on 58 minutes, was the game in one move. Pedro Porro played a give-and-go with Dani Olmo, kept running, and finished when the return found him in behind a French line that had stopped tracking runners. At 2-0 with half an hour left, against this Spain, the tie was over.

How did Spain shut Mbappé down?

By never letting France get going. Rodri owned the middle of the pitch, Marc Cucurella and Pedro Porro locked down the flanks, and Kylian Mbappé spent the night feeding on scraps. France had 10 shots and got barely 0.3 expected goals out of them — a return that tells you how few of those were real chances. For a team that had not conceded in the knockouts and carried the Golden Boot leader, it was a startling silence.

Mbappé’s frustration boiled over late. On 86 minutes, with nothing coming off, he rushed into Spain keeper Unai Simón as the goalkeeper bent to collect the ball and was booked for the foul — the gesture of a captain who could feel the final slipping away, not the elbow some framed it as. He also leaves the tournament stuck on 20 career World Cup goals, one short of Messi’s all-time record of 21 — a chase that ends here while Messi plays on.

Why were France so poor?

Because their most expensive names disappeared. Michael Olise, so dangerous all tournament, was bullied off the ball by Rodri and Cucurella and hooked at the hydration break for Rayan Cherki, and the front line that had swept past Morocco never found a rhythm. Afterwards Mbappé turned the criticism on the setup: “We were three against two in midfield and against Spain, that’s hard. There was a lack of communication on the press.” As captain he also took the blame on himself, saying France had wanted the final and had to accept how they were judged for missing it.

What does this mean for Spain?

That the one team nobody could score against has now added the scalp everyone feared. Spain have conceded once all tournament — De Ketelaere’s goal for Belgium — and just held the Golden Boot leader and his side to 0.3 expected goals. From the Merino winner over Portugal onward they have found a different way to win in every round; this time it was simply being better than a great team.

Who do Spain play in the World Cup 2026 final?

The winner of Argentina vs England, at MetLife Stadium on July 19. Spain reach a first World Cup final since 2010 as the form side of the tournament, waiting on whether it is Messi’s Argentina or Bellingham’s England who come through in Atlanta. Either way, having just silenced Mbappé, the title odds now point firmly their way. For the full bracket, see our knockout guide.