The dream has abruptly concluded for the French team. Les Bleus were eliminated from the 2026 World Cup in the semi-finals, falling to Spain with a 2-0 defeat. This highly anticipated match, feeling like an early final, ultimately saw a clear victor, as La Roja expertly controlled the game against an uninspired French offense.

First half woes: penalty and injury plague Les Bleus

The initial half quickly turned into a nightmare for the French side. Amidst a series of intense physical challenges, the Spanish capitalized on the match’s palpable tension to mount increasing pressure. This strategy led to dangerous fouls, such as Adrien Rabiot’s early challenge on Dani Olmo.

The decisive blow landed in the 20th minute when Lucas Digne, unaware of Lamine Yamal approaching from behind, brought him down inside the penalty area. While the contact appeared light, it was sufficient to warrant a penalty, which Mikel Oyarzabal confidently converted, maintaining his perfect record and opening the scoring.

Further misfortune struck around the half-hour mark when William Saliba was forced to leave the field due to injury, with Maxence Lacroix stepping in as his replacement.

Spain’s masterclass in the second goal

At halftime, sensing Adrien Rabiot’s growing nervousness and risk of a second yellow card, Didier Deschamps made a midfield substitution, bringing on Manu Koné. Despite his impressive performance against Morocco, the AS Roma player couldn’t halt the relentless Spanish assault.

In the 58th minute, La Roja delivered a masterclass in offensive buildup, culminating in their second goal. Pedro Porro finished a brilliant one-two play with Dani Olmo, who managed to return the ball despite being fouled at the edge of the box, securing a crucial two-goal lead. This sequence was emblematic of the stellar performances from both players throughout the tournament for Spain.

Les Bleus found themselves overwhelmed, and the deficit nearly widened moments later. However, Lamine Yamal’s solo effort, cutting in from the right flank to beat Mike Maignan, was ultimately disallowed in the 61st minute.

Deschamps’ efforts prove fruitless

It cannot be said that Didier Deschamps didn’t attempt to change the game’s dynamic. However, his substitutions, including Désiré Doué before the hour mark, followed by Théo Hernandez and Rayan Cherki, failed to penetrate the well-organized Spanish defense. Conversely, Luis de la Fuente had a strong bench at his disposal and utilized it effectively, introducing Ferran Torres, Pedri, Mikel Merino, and Nico Williams, who all made an impact.

The French team tried to ignite a late surge as the clock wound down in regular time, but they couldn’t convert their efforts into a goal or even a shot on target. This included a missed opportunity when Unai Simon ventured outside his box, which Désiré Doué hesitated to lob.

Thus, Spain will compete in their first World Cup final since their triumph in 2010. La Roja now awaits the winner of the other semi-final between Argentina and England, scheduled for Wednesday evening.