Spain reach World Cup final after Oyarzabal and Porro sink France 2026 World Cup
Consider this a wonderful narrative for anyone tempted to dismiss Spain as underdogs. How they enjoyed finishing the course here, booking a show in New Jersey on Sunday and bringing France down to the riders. Didier Deschamps’ side were named the champions-elect but their attacking superiority was nowhere to be found in the game. For Kylian Mbappé it will be another four-year wait to conquer the world again; he was an independent person, fired by opponents who said completely after moving forward.
Spain can partly thank Lucas Digne for the poor defending that conceded a penalty midway through the first half, even if there were some doubts about the legitimacy of the award. Mikel Oyarzabal converted emphatically and the risk after that was absolutely high. Pedro Porro’s brilliantly worked second settled the matter emphatically. No one will make the mistake of underestimating their prospects of seeing work so far; France, depressed and badly beaten, cut a picture of a side that could not understand what was happening.
The football game finally broke out after a build-up that led to an unbearable DJ-led set that worked tirelessly to break down any semblance of a spirit before it started. The semi-final of the World Cup deserves better than this, the closed roof does nothing to reduce the depressing acoustic effect, but this game got the ability to remove many attempts to reduce it last month.
These groups do not produce a sound that is indistinguishable to the ears; they are sinuous, subtle, brilliant when they control the volume themselves. It’s no surprise to see Spain stick with the starting XI that beat Belgium, meaning Mikel Merino will once again be graced with a top-class role. Deschamps introduced Aurélien Tchouaméni who rebalanced in midfield, who felt harsh on Manu Koné, and preferred the direction of Bradley Barcola to the back gifts of Désiré Doué.
Barcola overcame Pedro Porro for the first invitation after six minutes of playing for Spain. Control can be important for Luis de La Fuente and his players. An early opportunity arose for Álex Baena to take a more direct route but he hit the free-kick into the wall from the right of the centre.
It was that kind of start, the next Mbappé wasted a good attack when he cooked a pass to Ousmane Dembélé. When France got some flow, Michael Olise held on to Dembélé before a good first ball towards Mbappé, Spain’s defense was back in numbers.
Then Digne’s carelessness blew a respectful opening out of the water. The left back didn’t buy enough from the cross from the opposite side, the ball went off his head and allowed Lamine Yamal to intervene. Lamine Yamal flicked it past Digne, seemingly through his upper arm, and fell hard as his opponent panicked.
The referee, Iván Barton, had an easy decision to make at the time but there was still a question as to whether the video assistant referee would intervene. The decision of the field is still standing but the replays seem to confirm that Lamine Yamal has become a member towards the ball.
Oyarzabal, not wanting to turn down the offer, swept the point-kick past Mike Maignan. Within a few minutes the French backline was in fresh trouble, William Saliba stepped up to make way for Maxence Lacroix. They had to chase Spain and they couldn’t hold on to the midfield. When Barcola had another nibble at Porro, he ran out of ideas and hit the floor.
This was a bit awkward, Maignan gave a nod towards Baena. The next sequence was exciting, Dani Olmo and Lamine Yamal combined to cover Fabián Ruiz. It would have been an intervention for the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder if Dayot Upamecano had not come out of nowhere to block.
Spain will have to be content with a narrow lead but can consider their job well done so far. For all the pre-match hype, the French attackers didn’t have a single worry.
Koné replaced Adrien Rabiot, a red card walk-off from an early booking, in the second half. France needed 11 players but also needed improvement in all areas. Instead Spain remained in complete command, Oyarzabal firing. France couldn’t get the ball together enough to pose a sustained threat. While they took advantage of the opportunity to build down the right, Dembélé passed without playing.
Before an hour it was time to be Doué. The bet on Barcola’s speed had failed and things soon took a turn for the worse. While Spain dominated the proceedings in full, they never looked blind to other openings. Porro’s goal was well taken, with Olmo stumbling and able to recover his pass as a gap opened up on France’s left flank. The conclusion was flawed; Spain was making this look easy.
The scoreline would give that impression and a narrow offside call was denied to Lamine Yamal for the third time. It was the 64th minute before Mbappé made any kind of impression, Unai Simón hitting his cross into the back line. He then saw Marc Cucurella deflect a drive wide but Deschamps must have been looking forward to those three minutes of training.
It makes little difference. Mbappé scored a free-kick but Ferran Torres would have added the finishing touch for Spain, who will score a bit now.
