Spain beat France 2-0 in Tuesday's World Cup semi-final at Dallas Stadium, ending Les Bleus' bid for a third straight final. Goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro sealed a comfortable win for the European champions. France had entered the tournament as favourites after a run of strong attacking performances. Coach Didier Deschamps admitted afterwards that his side was second best.
How did Spain beat France in the World Cup semi-final?
Spain controlled the game through possession and a deliberately slow tempo that France failed to disrupt. Mikel Oyarzabal converted a penalty after 22 minutes, and Pedro Porro doubled the lead just before the hour. France created little going forward and could not respond to Spain's control of midfield.
France looked as flat as they had during the first hour of the 2022 final against Argentina. That night they recovered and lost only on penalties, leaving with credit for one of the tournament's great games. There was no such recovery this time. Spain dominated from start to finish, and France had no answer.
"The players are devastated, but we have to be clear-headed: technically, we were second best. That is on us," Deschamps said. Substitute Rayan Cherki added that Spain's ability to slow the game down had caused France serious problems. "It was more difficult than we expected," he said.
Why did France's attack fail against Spain?
France's forward line, tipped as one of the tournament's strongest, barely threatened Spain's defence. Michael Olise, previously linked with Ballon d'Or contention, struggled to find space or rhythm throughout. He lost the ball 20 times and did not complete a single dribble.
Ousmane Dembélé had little impact, while Bradley Barcola and substitute Desiré Doué were similarly ineffective. Kylian Mbappé never produced a decisive moment, and the pitch's loudest reaction came when David and Victoria Beckham appeared on the big screen. Spain's Rodri, by contrast, controlled the midfield with composed authority.
What went wrong for France in midfield?
France's double pivot was overrun for most of the match. Adrien Rabiot picked up an early yellow card that limited his usual aggression. Aurélien Tchouameni, returning from a hamstring injury that kept him out of the previous two games, struggled to match Spain's pace.
With midfield control lost, France's defence was repeatedly exposed. Two costly mistakes led directly to Spain's goals. By full time, several French players were on their knees, and Mbappé stood alone on the pitch as the scale of the defeat set in.
What happens next for France and Spain?
Spain's win secures their place in Sunday's World Cup final, their first appearance in the match since 2010, when they went on to win the title. France's campaign ends in the semi-finals, prompting fresh questions about the balance between individual talent and tactical structure. Deschamps' pre-match talk of unity and cohesion looked, by the end, far removed from what unfolded on the pitch.
