The giant screen suspended above the pitch lit up with the face of Lamine Yamal, the teenager wearing a slim hairband marked with 08304 — the postcode of the working-class Catalan neighbourhood he proudly calls home.
As he stood alongside his Spain teammates for the anthems, Yamal looked almost as though he had stepped straight out of that community and onto the grandest stage. Yet on Tuesday night, he helped propel his country toward the World Cup final, winning the penalty that gave Spain a lead they never surrendered.
Spain controlled the centre of the pitch with authority, cutting off the service to France’s celebrated attack and leaving their forwards with precious few opportunities to drag the favourites back into the contest.
It was a polished, commanding display that sent a clear warning to Argentina and England ahead of Sunday’s final in New Jersey. This may well be the finest Spain team the game has seen.
Spain defeated favourites France 2-0 to reach their second World Cup final
Mikel Oyarzabal stayed composed from the penalty spot to put Spain deservedly ahead before half-time
Royal Rodri
Rodri has been outstanding throughout this World Cup, and this was a performance worthy of the Ballon d’Or he claimed in 2024. He orchestrated Spain’s 2-0 victory, even if the Man of the Match honour — or “Superior Player,” as it is now branded — again went elsewhere, this time to Pedro Porro.
Spain understood they were facing a more dangerous attacking unit than their own. But with Rodri anchoring the midfield, they had a shield capable of shutting France’s supply lines down.
When France began brightly, with Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise briefly threatening, Rodri simply cut off the central passing lanes. France were chasing down blind alleys. They were slowly suffocated.
Denied the space he tends to thrive in, Olise swapped wings with Dembele in an attempt to find some. On a most wretched night for France, space simply never came.
There will be much talk of Yamal before Sunday’s final but Rodri is the one who Spain’s opponents must devise a plan for.
Rodri was the architect of Spain’s victory, acting as a forcefield in the midfield to protect his defence
Mbappe chasing shadows
Mbappe was oozing self-confidence once again as he walked out here last night in France’s stylish pinstripe shirt.
It’s all well and good having a front four like theirs but it doesn’t work when there is no-one to get the ball up to them. Mbappe was unable to land a blow because France were unable to land him opportunities. There were a few fleeting chances but he could not capitalise.
When Dembele sent a gorgeous diagonal ball across 30 yards to Mbappe in the first half, Spaniards swarmed around him. When Jules Kounde fizzed a low ball into Spain’s six-yard box, Mbappe was a yard or more behind it.
His barrelling run into the box just beyond the hour for a shot which sailed narrowly wide was a rare moment of jeopardy for an untroubled Spanish back four. He was booked before the end.
Kylian Mbappe was unable to land a blow on Spain after being starved of supply
Barcola gamble fails
Didier Deschamps had selected the PSG wide man Bradley Barcola instead of Desire Doue on the left because he is a more dynamic and attacking player, seen as more likely to bring danger to Spain. But Barcola could not set this pace alight because he couldn’t operate well in such tight spaces. A cut inside brought a shot which sailed high and wide.
Doue replaced him in the hope of something better and the France contingent in this stadium cheered at the sight of him. But nothing changed. Until that half chance Barcola carved open, France’s XG had been 0.01
Olmo and Oyarzabal collectivism
It was a brutal schooling for a France side who were played off the park and Spain’s so-called lesser lights were key. Mikel Oyarzabal, the Real Sociedad player, who coolly converted the penalty Yamal won, has scored 30 goals in 60 appearances for his country – yet would admit that he is just a solid pro. He was given his Sociedad debut by David Moyes.
There were some wonderful moments from Barca’s Dani Olmo, the Spain No 10, too. An intricate one-two between Porro and Olmo, with Olmo at its apex, brought Spain’s second.
No France defender had tracked the Porro as he doubled the lead. Olmo’s backheel to Yamal in tight space almost put Spain 2-0 up before half-time, too. Lamal’s cross found Fabian Ruiz, who put ball wide.
Pedro Porro doubled the after the break after a fine move from Spain against a below-par France
Lethal Lamal
Yamal was lurking, just out of Lucas Digne’s peripheral vision, as the defender struggled to get a ball under control and though his kick at him was accidental, it was a foul, nonetheless. A justifiable penalty.
Though he didn’t dominate the game and has had a relatively quiet tournament, he was always present, putting the fear of God into the France rearguard. Tracing a path along the dead ball after collecting possession from a blocked free kick. Getting in behind on a Porro pass early in the second half.
Lucas Digne gave away a penalty after kicking Lamine Yamal as he attempted to clear the ball
Yamal will look to lead Spain to World Cup glory as Mbappe and France lick their wounds
Any excuses for France?
It didn’t help their belief that they lost William Saliba early on. The Arsenal defender seemed to jar his back as he fell awkwardly.
Nor that the player who had initially looked like France’s own sentry, Adrien Rabiot, received an early yellow card which, with Yamal to police, left created too much of a risk for him to reappear for the second half.
But this defeat will take some stomaching for a French nation who expected far more on Bastille Day.
William Saliba limped off for France in the first half with his injury a major blow
So where now for France?
They look into an uncertain future – defeated in three successive tournament semi-finals by a golden Spanish generation and looking to a new manager to help them find the way. Deschamps is stepping down. Zinedine Zidane is the overwhelming favourite to replace him.
It’s not the first time France will go home with lots of bouquets but no trophy. Michel Platini’s great team of 1982 and 1986 lost back-to-back semis, too. The new manager has Olise and Doue as the new wave of talent. Hugo Etikike and Warren Zaire-Emery may also develop as stars for Les Bleus. But there is little consolation here. Spain look like they might dominate for some time to come.
France now face an uncertain future having lost three successive semi-finals by Spain
The defeat will see Didier Deschamps’ era as France manager end in the third placed play-off
Lessons for England or Argentina?
Simply that it will take a monumental performance and perhaps a slice or two of luck in New Jersey to defeat Luis del Fuente’s side, which looks a more complete one than the World Cup winning squad of 2010.
They are excellent in possession and out of it. They have conceded just one goal at this tournament and were defensively strong when France came back at them near the end.
Rodri is such a force – shielding the defence and cutting off midfield supply lines. And though Spain lack the world class central striker of other nations, Yamal is a clear and present danger at all times.
