France’s quest for a third straight FIFA World Cup final came to an end on Tuesday after a commanding Spain side secured a 2-0 victory in the semi-finals, exposing the weaknesses of Didier Deschamps’ men on the biggest stage.
Having entered the match as one of the tournament favourites following a series of impressive attacking performances, France struggled to cope with Spain’s control of possession, disciplined midfield and clinical finishing.
Spain took charge from the opening stages and never allowed France to settle into the contest. Their dominance paid off in the 22nd minute when Mikel Oyarzabal converted a penalty after a defensive error to put the European champions ahead.
France attempted to respond after the break but found few openings against a well-organised Spanish defence. Any hopes of a comeback faded just before the hour mark when Pedro Porro doubled Spain’s advantage, capitalising on another defensive lapse.
The defeat marked France’s most disappointing performance of the tournament, with their star-studded attack unable to produce the spark that had carried them through the earlier rounds.
“The players are devastated, but we have to be clear-headed: technically, we were second best. That is on us,” France coach Didier Deschamps admitted after the match.
France’s creative players found little room to operate throughout the game. Michael Olise, who had been widely praised for his performances earlier in the competition, struggled to influence proceedings as Spain’s midfield denied him both time and space. He repeatedly lost possession and failed to break through the Spanish defence.
The difficulties extended across France’s frontline. Ousmane Dembélé was largely contained, while Bradley Barcola and substitute Désiré Doué were unable to change the course of the match. Captain Kylian Mbappé also endured a frustrating evening as he was kept quiet by Spain’s disciplined back line.
Spain’s midfield proved decisive. Rodri controlled the tempo of the game, while France’s pairing of Adrien Rabiot and Aurélien Tchouaméni found it difficult to match the movement and intensity of their opponents. Rabiot’s early yellow card limited his aggression, and Tchouaméni, returning after missing the previous two matches with a hamstring injury, struggled to regain his rhythm.
Rayan Cherki acknowledged after the match that France had underestimated the challenge posed by the Spanish side.
“We knew their main strength was their ability to play at a false tempo. At times, we should have done the same. It was more difficult than we expected,” he said.
Spain, inspired by teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, executed their game plan with confidence and composure, controlling possession and preventing France from building sustained attacks.
At the final whistle, the disappointment among the French players was evident. Mbappé remained standing alone on the pitch, while several teammates dropped to their knees or buried their faces in their hands as their World Cup campaign came to an abrupt end.
