Spain blank France 2-0 to reach first World Cup final since 2010

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP):

Spain will contest a World Cup final for the first time since lifting the trophy in 2010 after a disciplined 2-0 semi-final win over France yesterday, capped by a Mikel Oyarzabal penalty and a second strike from Pedro Porro.

The decisive opening goal sprang from teenage standout Lamine Yamal, who forced the foul that led to Oyarzabal’s spot kick. One day after turning 19, Yamal later had a finish ruled out for a tight offside decision shortly after Porro’s 58th-minute exchange with Dani Olmo had stretched the lead to two.

La Roja now await Sunday’s final in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where either title holders Argentina or England will provide the opposition — only the second time Spain have reached that stage.

“We gave it our all in order just to go through to the final,” Porro said. “We knew that we’re a very tough team. We’re doing things really well. This is our team. It’s not about me.”

France, led by Kylian Mbappé and sitting atop the FIFA rankings, had hoped to become just the third side to appear in three World Cup finals in a row. Instead they head to Saturday’s third-place fixture in Miami Gardens, Florida, a day before the final at MetLife Stadium across the river from New York City. Argentina and England meet today in Atlanta in the other semi-final.

The result was Spain’s third straight summer triumph over France in a major tournament semi-final. Yamal found the net in a 2-1 European Championship semi-final success in 2024, days shy of his 17th birthday, and Spain prevailed 5-4 in Nations League action last year. Following Friday’s quarter-final victory against Belgium, Yamal had suggested France ought to be wary of Spain — and that warning held.

Oyarzabal converted from the spot in the 22nd minute after Lucas Digne kicked Yamal in the area. Digne, making his 63rd France appearance six days before turning 33, mishandled an early headed touch and tried to clear as Yamal pressed from behind. The ball struck the leaping teenager’s elbow before Digne’s kick brought the foul.

It was Oyarzabal’s fifth goal of the tournament and the first time either nation had fallen behind across seven matches each. The finish was also his 30th in 60 caps for Spain.

Porro then raced clear and finished after a first-time return from Olmo, who released the ball an instant before Dayot Upamecano knocked him over.

France had conceded only twice in their opening six fixtures. Spain’s Unai Simón, meanwhile, has kept six clean sheets and been beaten just once in seven outings.

Spain created two further first-half openings. In the eighth minute, Adrien Rabiot was booked for fouling Olmo, but Alex Baena’s free kick from just outside the area struck the French wall. Later, in the 38th minute, Mike Maignan’s attempted clearance fell straight to Baena; a rapid sequence of passes ended with Fabian Ruiz denied from close range.

Spain’s World Cup run lifted their regulation-time unbeaten sequence to 37 matches — 28 wins and nine draws — stretching back to March 2024 and surpassing the previous national mark of 35 consecutive games between 2007 and 2009.

France’s defeat ended a six-match World Cup winning run that had equalled their earlier streaks from the 2018 and 2022 competitions.