Spain secure World Cup final spot with victory over France
Spain have advanced to the World Cup final after a 2-0 victory against France in Dallas. The win marks their first appearance in the final since 2010, and they are set to face either England or Argentina in New Jersey on Sunday. The match saw Mikel Oyarzabal convert a penalty in the first half, followed by a second goal from Pedro Porro.
The encounter was marked by Spain‘s dominance, effectively neutralising France‘s much-touted attack, including star player Kylian Mbappé. France, who had been considered strong contenders, struggled to assert themselves throughout the game, particularly in midfield.
First-half action and controversial penalty
The opening stages of the match saw Spain maintaining possession, though an early free-kick from Álex Baena was blocked. France had moments of attack, with Mbappé overcooking a pass towards Ousmane Dembélé, and a later combination between Michael Olise and Dembélé failing to break through Spain‘s defence.
A pivotal moment occurred midway through the first half when Lucas Digne conceded a penalty. Digne‘s attempt to clear a cross resulted in the ball popping up off his head, allowing Lamine Yamal to contest. Yamal then nudged the ball past Digne, seemingly with the upper portion of his arm, before being fouled by the panicking defender. The referee, Iván Barton, awarded the penalty, a decision that stood despite questions regarding a potential handball by Yamal.
According to rules analyst Christina Unkel, the contact on Yamal‘s sleeve would not be considered a handling offence, thus validating the penalty decision. Gary Neville, however, criticised Digne for his defending, noting a lack of awareness regarding Yamal‘s position. Oyarzabal calmly converted the spot-kick past Mike Maignan, giving Spain the lead.
Following the goal, France faced further disruption as William Saliba left the field due to injury, being replaced by Maxence Lacroix. Spain continued to control the game, with Fabián Ruiz having a chance to extend the lead, only to be denied by a significant block from Dayot Upamecano.
Spain maintain control in second half
At the start of the second period, Manu Koné replaced Adrien Rabiot, who had been booked earlier. Despite the change, Spain remained in command, limiting France‘s ability to create sustained threats. Oyarzabal had another shot that went over the bar, and Dembélé passed the ball out of play during a rare opportunity for France to build an attack down the right.
As the match progressed, Désiré Doué was brought on for Bradley Barcola, but this change did not alter the flow of the game. Spain continued to press, and Pedro Porro scored their second goal with a well-worked play. Dani Olmo returned a pass to Porro, who then delivered an unerring finish, making the victory appear comfortable for Spain. Lamine Yamal also had a goal disallowed for a narrow offside call in the 64th minute.
Mbappé‘s impact was minimal, with his first notable action in the 64th minute resulting in a cross-shot batted away by Unai Simón. He later saw a drive deflected wide by Marc Cucurella. Ferran Torres, who came on as a substitute, had an opportunity to add to Spain‘s lead. Spain‘s captain, Rodri, delivered an outstanding performance, contributing to France‘s midfield being dominated from start to finish. Unai Simón also maintained his sixth clean sheet in seven matches.
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Source: theguardian.com