ARLINGTON, July 15— A masterclass in tactical discipline has propelled Spain into the final of the FIFA World Cup following a comprehensive victory over neighbors France in Texas. Goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Player of the Match Pedro Porro ensured a smooth passage for Luis de la Fuente’s side, who systematically choked out a French offense that entered the match boasting immense attacking pedigree. The 2-0 result not only keeps Spain’s unbeaten streak alive at 37 matches but guarantees them a shot at a second global crown this Sunday in New Jersey.
The decisive moments occurred on either side of the halftime whistle, starting when teenage winger Lamine Yamal earned a first-half penalty after drawing contact inside the area. Oyarzabal directed the spot-kick past goalkeeper Mike Maignan to put the favorites behind for the first time all tournament. The second blow landed in the 58th minute when Porro made a smart overlapping run, collected a return pass from Dani Olmo, and drilled a precise shot into the net to permanently deflate the French comeback hopes.
French skipper Kylian Mbappé took full accountability for his team’s inability to break down the highly organized Spanish defensive unit or adapt to the flow of the semifinal.
“You take all the glory when you win, when you don’t win you have to take the blame. It’s part of my game, my life, and as captain I have to take all the responsibility. We wanted to go to the final, we didn’t and we have to take what people say to us,” Mbappé affirmed.
France had historic precedents working against them, with historical data showing that very few nations have ever successfully overturned a halftime deficit to win a World Cup semifinal match. The task grew more difficult after central defender William Saliba sustained an injury midway through the first half, disrupting the backline cohesion. Despite subsequent second-half substitutions introducing fresh attacking personnel, relentless high pressing from Spain combined with steady goalkeeping by Unai Simon preserved the clean sheet.
The clinical first-half penalty also marked a major individual achievement for Oyarzabal on the international stage. The striker’s rich vein of form extends to 18 goals in his last 20 outings for his country. The strike makes him just the sixth individual to reach the 30-goal milestone for the Spanish national team, trailing only David Silva, Alvaro Morata, Fernando Torres, Raul, and David Villa in the historical charts.
