Spain defeat France 2-0 to reach 2026 World Cup final
Baku, July 15, AZERTAC
Spain booked their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final with a 2-0 victory over France on Tuesday at Dallas Stadium in the United States.
Spain took the lead in the 22nd minute after France’s Lucas Digne brought down Lamine Yamal inside the penalty area. Mikel Oyarzabal stepped up and confidently blasted the penalty into the top corner, leaving goalkeeper Mike Maignan with no chance.
Oyarzabal’s spot-kick separated the sides at half-time, with Spain the better team throughout the opening period. La Roja moved the ball with pace and precision, creating several promising chances, while France struggled to find their rhythm and bring their dangerous attacking players into the game.
At the back, Aymeric Laporte delivered an assured first-half performance on the left side of Spain’s defense. With Marc Cucurella booked early, Laporte produced a composed display alongside Pau Cubarsí, combining solid defending with excellent distribution to help contain one of the tournament’s most dangerous attacking sides.
Spain doubled their lead in the 58th minute with a superbly worked team goal. Pedro Porro played the ball into Dani Olmo before continuing his run into the penalty area. Olmo returned it with a perfectly weighted reverse pass, allowing Porro to finish calmly beyond Maignan and put La Roja within touching distance of the World Cup final.
Spain’s commanding performance secured their place in the final, where they will face either England or Argentina, while France will play in the third-place playoff on Saturday.
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