Spain Clinches World Cup Final Spot with 2-0 Shutout of France

Spain Clinches World Cup Final Spot with 2-0 Shutout of France

• Spain will face either defending champion Argentina or England on Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey

ARLINGTON, Texas — Mikel Oyarzabal converted a penalty kick following a clever run by teenager Lamine Yamal, while Pedro Porro contributed a second goal, propelling Spain to a 2-0 victory over France on Tuesday and securing its first World Cup final appearance since its 2010 triumph.

One day after turning 19, Yamal saw a goal waived off for a narrow offside decision shortly after Porro’s 58th-minute give-and-go with Dani Olmo had extended Spain’s lead to 2-0. Nevertheless, it was the youngster’s intelligent pressure on a seasoned defender that initiated the opener.

Spain now awaits the winner of Wednesday’s semifinal between defending champion Argentina and England, set for Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey. That matchup will be decided in Atlanta.

France, led by Kylian Mbappé and ranked No. 1 by FIFA, aimed to become just the third nation to reach three successive World Cup finals. Instead, Les Bleus will contest the third-place playoff in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Saturday, preceding the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

The result marks the third consecutive summer in which Spain has eliminated France at a major tournament semifinal stage. Yamal netted in a 2-1 Euro 2024 semifinal win days before his 17th birthday, and La Roja claimed a 5-4 Nations League victory last year.

Following last Friday’s quarterfinal win against Belgium, Yamal remarked that France should be wary of Spain — a prediction that proved accurate.

Oyarzabal’s 22nd-minute spot kick was awarded after Yamal was fouled by defender Lucas Digne. Digne, moments from his 33rd birthday and earning his 63rd France cap, misjudged a header and attempted a clearance when Yamal closed in; the ball struck the leaping teenager’s elbow before Digne’s challenge.

The penalty was Oyarzabal’s fifth goal of the tournament and his 30th in 60 international appearances, also representing the first time either side had fallen behind across their seven matches in the competition.

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