Spain produced a stunning display of tactical brilliance and teamwork on Tuesday night, securing their spot in only their second World Cup final by comprehensively beating pre-tournament favourites France 2-0. Despite France boasting an attacking arsenal featuring stars like Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, and Michael Olise, they were ultimately outmanoeuvred by a Spanish side that demonstrated why they are the reigning European champions.
Luis de la Fuente's team, who have largely flown under the radar during this World Cup campaign, surprised many by dismantling a French side that had cruised through the earlier stages. Spain's victory extends their remarkable unbeaten run to 37 matches, equalling Italy's international record. Their journey to the final has seen them keep an impressive six clean sheets in seven games, highlighting a defensive solidity that complements their renowned midfield control.
Goals from Mikel Oyarzabal, via a penalty, and a superb finish from Pedro Porro within the first hour sealed the victory for Spain, despite these being their only two attempts on target. The win sets up a tantalising final on Sunday, where they will face either Argentina or England, depending on the outcome of Wednesday's semi-final in Atlanta. Should England prevail, it would be a repeat of the Euro 2024 final.
The performance drew significant praise, with former Premier League champion Chris Sutton remarking on BBC Radio 5 Live, "Spain scalped France - they flattened France. We have given France so much praise in this tournament, but they were swatted aside by silky Spain." Fellow pundit Roy Keane added on ITV, "France were not playing as a team. Brilliant individuals not playing as a team. Spain have been absolutely brilliant - an absolute joy to watch."
Manager Luis de la Fuente, whose appointment in December 2022 was met with some scepticism, has emphatically silenced his doubters. Having previously led Spain's youth teams, he has now guided the senior squad to a Nations League triumph in 2023, Euro 2024 glory, and now a World Cup final. This remarkable run underscores the success of a coach who has fostered a cohesive unit, proving that a strong collective can overcome a collection of brilliant individuals.