Spain will play in their second FIFA World Cup™ final, following an impressive 2-0 victory over tournament favourites France in Dallas.
A Mikel Oyarzabal penalty and a smart, second-half finish from Pedro Porro was enough for Luis de la Fuente’s side to ease their way to a meeting with either Argentina or England this weekend.
19 minutes were on the clock when Spain were given the perfect chance to open the scoring. Lucas Digne made a mess of his attempt at clearing a cross and, as Lamine Yamal nicked the ball off him, brought down the Barcelona winger just inside the area.
Mikel Oyarzabal, who had four goals heading into today’s semi-final, made it five with a clinical finish from 12 yards.
France never looked set throughout the game, with the likes of Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé struggling to make an impressive on a Spain side that were always high on confidence.
A few minutes before the hour mark and Spain got their deserved second goal. Pedro Porro driving forward from his right-back position and playing the ball into he feet of Dani Olmo who, whether by accident or design, found Pedro with a return pass and the Tottenham Hotspur man finished clinically.
Lamine Yamal had the ball in the net for what appeared to be a third goal for his side, but the forward was correctly denied by the offside flag.
A late rally from France never really materialised, with Mbappé and Dembélé reduced to speculative efforts from around the edge of the penalty area.
Spain then are deserved finalists and will take some stopping in New Jersey, where they will face either Argentina or England, who play their semi-final tomorrow.
RESULT
France 0 Spain 2 (Mikel OYARZABAL (P) 22′, Pedro PORRO 58′)
WHAT’S NEXT
Semi-final
Thursday, July 16
England v Argentina | 7am NZT (Atlanta)
Photo Credit: FIFA via Getty Images