Spain secured a 2-0 victory over France in the World Cup semifinals, advancing to the final for the second time in its history. This win marks Spain‘s sixth shutout in the expanded World Cup tournament, demonstrating a strong defensive performance against a highly regarded France team.
The match saw Spain break France‘s perceived inevitability, with the opening goal coming from a penalty after Lucas Digne fouled Lamine Yamal in the box. This early advantage set the tone for Spain, which then managed to control the game despite France‘s offensive talent.
Spanish Defence Shines
Spain‘s defence proved formidable, limiting France‘s attacking players, including Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, and Michael Olise. Mbappé, who entered the match with 20 goals in 20 World Cup games, managed only three shots, none of which were on target. France‘s coach, Didier Deschamps, noted that Spain effectively closed down spaces, contributing to France‘s technical errors.
Goalkeeper Unai Simón played a crucial role, making key interventions, including sprinting off his line to head the ball away from a charging Mbappé. Even when the ball went to Desire Doue after Simón‘s header, the keeper recovered to make a no-hands deflection and secure the ball. This performance contributed to Simón‘s sixth clean sheet of the tournament.
Spain‘s defensive record in the tournament has been notable, conceding only one goal in seven games. This includes victories against teams like Portugal, Belgium, and France in the knockout stages. The team’s expected goals against (xGA) for the tournament stands at 2.1, the lowest among all participating teams.
The defensive effort against France was particularly strong, with Spain conceding only 0.30 expected goals against. This marked France‘s lowest offensive output in the tournament’s history since 1966, according to Opta data.
Key Player Contributions
Beyond Simón, several Spanish defenders delivered strong performances. Young centre-back Pau Cubarsi made four clearances, one block, and one last-man tackle, contributing to seven total defensive actions. Aymeric Laporte had the most touches in the game with 86 and added four clearances.
Pedro Porro, who scored Spain‘s second goal, also contributed defensively with three clearances and two tackles. Marc Cucurella, on the left, recorded seven defensive contributions, including a crucial last-ditch tackle on Mbappé before stoppage time.
While Lamine Yamal did not score against France, his presence in the final third led to the penalty that resulted in Spain‘s first goal. His ability to exert pressure and track back on defence has been a consistent factor in Spain‘s success throughout the tournament.
Spain‘s path to the final included a 1-0 win over Portugal in the round of 16 and a 2-1 victory over Belgium in the quarterfinals. The team’s ability to secure wins, often with late goals, highlights its cohesive unit approach.
Looking Ahead to the Final
Spain will now face either England or Argentina in the World Cup final. This will be Spain‘s second appearance in the final, 16 years after winning the title in its only other final appearance.
The team’s consistent defensive strength and unified play have positioned them as strong contenders. Spain‘s only goal conceded in the tournament was Belgium‘s equalizer in the 41st minute of their 2-1 quarterfinal victory, ending a record of 650 scoreless minutes.
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Source: theglobeandmail.com
Ethan Brule is a Senior Hockey Writer at CasinoNews. He covered the NHL for a national Canadian outlet. He focuses on the NHL, the Maple Leafs and Team Canada and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Sports Media from Toronto Metropolitan University. Now based in Toronto, he plays beer-league hockey and follows the junior ranks. “Hockey in Canada is never only about the score.”
