Spain produced a masterclass in Dallas to beat France 2-0 and book their place in a first World Cup final since 2010 — a dominant performance that laid bare the gulf between the two sides and set up a showpiece against either England or Argentina.
Mikel Oyarzabal coolly converted a first-half penalty after Lucas Digne kicked Lamine Yamal, and Pedro Porro added a wonderful second as the European champions overwhelmed a France side that had not trailed all tournament. Unai Simon claimed his sixth clean sheet in seven matches, rushing out to deny Kylian Mbappe before he could pounce.
“Spain thrash France 2-0 to reach first World Cup final since 2010, awaiting England or Argentina.”
Mbappe, who had set the World Cup alight with his finishing, managed just two touches in the Spain penalty area in the first half. BBC Sport’s Neil Johnston rated him 5 out of 10, alongside most of his teammates. Adrien Rabiot was lucky to stay on the pitch after fouling Dani Olmo while already booked, and was replaced at half-time. William Saliba went off injured with no one around him after Spain scored — a desperately sad end to the Arsenal centre-half’s World Cup, according to Johnston.
France’s defeat means England manager Thomas Tuchel now knows his potential final opponent. The German, who became England head coach in January 2025, will lead the Three Lions against Argentina in Atlanta on Wednesday — only the third World Cup semi-final in England’s history. Victory would set up a final against Spain, who humbled France with a display that prompted Johnston to write: “Spain dominated France … some might say it was France’s first serious test.”
Tuchel, 52, divorced his wife Sissi in 2022 after 13 years of marriage. A source told the Mail on Sunday at the time: “Sissi and Thomas have tried to avoid splitting, but in the end, there was no other way.” The split became the talk of the Chelsea dressing room, and Tuchel was sacked less than six months later. Now he is on the verge of the biggest game of his managerial career, hoping to deliver England its first World Cup since 1966. Argentina, with Lionel Messi and the memory of lifting the trophy in Qatar three-and-a-half years ago, stand in the way.
Should England prevail, they would face a Spain side that has already beaten them twice in the past year — but first, Tuchel must navigate a fixture that evokes Diego Maradona’s 1986 quarter-final solo goal. The stakes could not be higher.