Spain silence France to march into WC final

Spain moved within one victory of football's greatest prize after producing a disciplined and clinical performance to defeat France 2-0 in the FIFA World Cup semi-final, booking their place in Sunday's final and extending an extraordinary unbeaten run.

On a night billed as a clash between two European heavyweights, Spain proved superior in both organisation and execution, frustrating KylianMbappé and the French attack before striking decisively at key moments.

France began brightly, pressing high and attempting to exploit the pace of Mbappé and OusmaneDembélé. But Spain gradually settled into their familiar rhythm, controlling possession and forcing the French midfield to chase the ball.

The breakthrough came in the 22nd minute.

Teenage sensation Lamine Yamal burst into the penalty area before being brought down by Lucas Digne, leaving the referee with little hesitation in pointing to the spot. Veteran forward Mikel Oyarzabal calmly converted the penalty to give Spain a deserved 1-0 lead. 

Spain nearly doubled their advantage before half-time when Yamal found the net with a composed finish, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside after a VAR review. Despite that disappointment, Spain remained firmly in control while France struggled to create meaningful opportunities.

France attempted to increase the tempo after the restart, introducing fresh attacking options in search of an equaliser.

Instead, Spain struck again.

In the 58th minute, Dani Olmo combined brilliantly with Pedro Porro, whose perfectly timed run ended with a confident finish beyond Mike Maignan to double Spain's advantage and leave France facing a mountain to climb.
From there, Spain never looked seriously troubled.

France enjoyed more possession during the closing stages, but Spain's defensive organisation remained outstanding. Goalkeeper UnaiSimón dealt confidently with every meaningful attempt, while centre-backs Pau Cubarsí and AymericLaporte denied Mbappé the space he needed to influence the match.

The frustration of the French captain became increasingly visible as Spain comfortably managed the final half-hour, closing every passing lane and refusing to allow France any sustained attacking momentum.

The final whistle confirmed another memorable night for Luis de la Fuente's side.
Spain have now reached the World Cup final with six clean sheets in seven matches and have conceded only once throughout the tournament, underlining the balance between their attacking flair and defensive discipline. Their unbeaten run has now stretched to 37 international matches, equalling one of Europe's longest-standing records.