Spain secured their spot in the World Cup final with a commanding 2-0 victory over France in Dallas. This win marks their return to the final stage for the first time since 2010. They are now set to face the winner of the England versus Argentina semi-final in New Jersey this Sunday.
Neil Johnston of BBC Sport reviewed the performances. For France, goalkeeper Mike Maignan struggled with distribution and the penalty, earning a 5. Defenders Jules Kounde, Dayot Upamecano, and Lucas Digne also received 5s, with Digne conceding the pivotal penalty. William Saliba was rated 6 before his injury. Midfielders Aurelien Tchouameni (5) and Adrien Rabiot (4) failed to control the game. The attacking front, featuring Ousmane Dembele (4), Michael Olise (5), Bradley Barcola (5), and Kylian Mbappe (5), could not break through. Substitutes Lacroix, Kone, Doue, Cherki, and Hernandez all received scores of 5 or 4.
Spain displayed superior tactical discipline. Unai Simon earned a 7 for his clean sheet, while Pedro Porro received a 7 for his stellar goal. The defense, led by Pau Cubarsi (7) and Aymeric Laporte (8), neutralized the French attack. Marc Cucurella was rated 6. Captain Rodri anchored the midfield with an outstanding 9, supported by Fabian Ruiz (7). Lamine Yamal provided a standout performance with an 8, while Dani Olmo (7) and Mikel Oyarzabal (7) contributed significantly to the attack. Alex Baena received a 6. Substitutes Ferran Torres, Mikel Merino, Pedri, Marcos Llorente, and Nico Williams helped seal the victory with scores between 5 and 6.
