Spain ended France's World Cup campaign with a 2-0 semifinal win in Dallas — Mikel Oyarzabal's penalty and Pedro Porro's second-half strike settled the tie as 16-year-old Lamine Yamal starred. Kylian Mbappé's late surge failed to overturn a disciplined La Roja performance, leaving Didier Deschamps' side stunned and Spain heading to their first World Cup final since 2010.
Spain 2–0 France — Oyarzabal penalty and Porro finish send La Roja to the final
Spain beat France 2-0 in a tense World Cup semifinal in Dallas as Mikel Oyarzabal converted a first-half penalty and Pedro Porro added a second-half finish.
Lamine Yamal repeatedly unsettled France’s left side, creating the space that led to the spot-kick and dragging defenders out of position all evening. Kylian Mbappé rallied late but produced too little, too late.
How the match unfolded
France started with pace and looked threatening on the counter through Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé, but a defensive lapse changed the game. A misjudged clearing header by Lucas Digne allowed Lamine Yamal to be on the end of the play; contact in the box led to a penalty, which Oyarzabal smashed home. The miss left France chasing the game for the first time in the tournament.
William Saliba’s exit with a back problem forced an early defensive reshuffle, compounding France’s first-half uncertainty. Spain grew into the match, using possession and clever disruption to frustrate Didier Deschamps’ side and blunt France’s rhythm.
Second half — Porro strikes, Spain manage the game
After the break Spain continued to press the weak points on France’s left. A slick sequence involving Pedro Porro and Dani Olmo ended with Porro sidefooting past Mike Maignan to double the advantage. La Roja then shifted to control the tempo, combining game management with periodic bursts of threat.
Mbappé finally tested Unai Simón with France’s first shot on target and forced a couple of nervy moments, but France lacked the consistent precision required to break down Spain’s defensive shape. A disallowed Yamal goal underscored Spain’s threat; the young winger’s influence stretched France throughout.
Tactical takeaways
Spain’s blend of youth and composure exposed France’s tactical fragility when behind. La Roja’s willingness to slow phases, recycle possession and force errors robbed France of the fast transitions that suit their attack. Lamine Yamal’s positioning and directness created overloads on the left, and the penalty was the lethal consequence.
For France, the match highlighted a worrying loss of control under pressure. Substitutions failed to shift momentum: Manu Koné brought energy but not the cutting edge, and Desire Doue’s late chances could not compensate for structural issues that began with Digne’s miscue. Didier Deschamps’ selection and the team's reaction to going behind will be questioned.
Key players
Spain: Lamine Yamal — a constant spark who stretched defenders and created decisive danger; Mikel Oyarzabal — clinical from the spot; Pedro Porro — decisive on the break and finished clinically.
France: Kylian Mbappé — industrious and dangerous in patches but unable to produce a match-defining moment; Mike Maignan — kept France in range early but beaten at the near post for the second.
What this means
Spain reach their first World Cup final since 2010, a vindication of a youthful, technically fluent group that can manage big-game pressure. For France, this is an abrupt and sobering end to a run that had reached consecutive finals; questions about defensive depth, in-game management and the team’s composure when behind must now be answered.
Looking ahead
Spain will prepare for the final full of confidence, relying on Yamal’s creative unpredictability and a front line that can both press and conserve leads.
Spain’s control and a decisive penalty deny Mbappé a third straight World Cup final
France face a period of introspection: squad fitness, tactical tweaks and perhaps personnel recalibration will be central to returning to the summit in four years.
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