Spain defeated France 2-0 on Tuesday at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and qualified for the for the first time since South Africa 2010.
The goals from Mikel Oyarzabal, from the penalty spot at the 22nd minute, and Pedro Porro, at the 58th minute, were enough to defeat the French team and take La Roja back to the biggest stage in football.
The team of Luis de la Fuente built their victory on an impeccable defensive foundation that left one of the most feared attacks in the tournament without any arguments. Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, and the rest of the French forward line—arriving as one of the most productive in the championship—found no openings against the pressure, tactical order, and solidity of the Spanish backline.
Oyarzabal opened the scoring from the penalty spot and provided Spain with the necessary calm to manage the match from the outset. In the second half, Porro extended the lead and ultimately sealed a semifinal in which France never managed to breach the defensive setup of the current European champion.
La Roja did not limit itself to defending. Dani Olmo and Lamine Yamal tested goalkeeper Mike Maignan several times, while the Spanish midfield controlled possession with authority and prevented the French from establishing dangerous plays near the area.
Mbappé, who arrived at the semifinals with physical doubts after suffering an injury to his right ankle in the quarterfinals against Morocco, was neutralized throughout the 90 minutes. The Real Madrid forward was the tournament's top scorer with eight goals before the match, but he was unable to add to his tally against a Spanish defense that gave him no space.
As the match progressed, the Spanish dominance became overwhelming. The final minutes unfolded in an endless chain of passes, accompanied by the "olé" chants echoing from the stands, a reflection of France's helplessness in their inability to respond.
Spain has reached this final after an unbeaten run in the tournament: first in Group H, with victories over Austria (3-0), Portugal (1-0), and Belgium (2-1)—with the decisive goal from Mikel Merino in the 88th minute during the quarterfinals—and now advancing to the final after eliminating the French team. The Spanish Royal House celebrated the advancement with a public message: "Thank you for giving us joy."
The last time Spain competed in a World Cup final was in South Africa 2010, when they defeated the Netherlands 1-0 in extra time thanks to a goal by Andrés Iniesta in the 116th minute, thus becoming the holders of their only world title.
On Sunday, July 19, at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey, La Roja will have the opportunity to lift their second World Cup. Their opponent will be determined from the semifinal between Argentina and England, scheduled for this Wednesday in Atlanta.
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