{"id":17397,"date":"2026-07-15T03:32:30","date_gmt":"2026-07-14T22:02:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/?p=17397"},"modified":"2026-07-15T03:32:30","modified_gmt":"2026-07-14T22:02:30","slug":"spain-2-0-france-la-roja-are-in-the-final-and-it-was-never-as-close-as-the-score-suggests","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/spain-2-0-france-la-roja-are-in-the-final-and-it-was-never-as-close-as-the-score-suggests\/","title":{"rendered":"Spain 2-0 France: La Roja Are In the Final \u2014 And It Was Never As Close As the Score Suggests"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/0-6-4z5974253\/0-2-5z5974716\/teams\/spain\/spain-squad\">Spain <\/a>are in the FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122 Final. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/0-6-4z5974253\/0-2-5z5974716\/teams\/france\/france-squad\">France <\/a>\u2014 tournament favorites, holders of the best attacking record in the competition \u2014 were beaten comprehensively at the Dallas Stadium. Two goals. A clean sheet. And a performance that made Kylian Mbapp\u00e9 largely irrelevant for 90 minutes. Luis de la Fuente&#8217;s side head to the Final. Didier Deschamps&#8217; side are going home.<\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_73 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-black ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Page Contents:<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #282fff;color:#282fff\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #282fff;color:#282fff\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/spain-2-0-france-la-roja-are-in-the-final-and-it-was-never-as-close-as-the-score-suggests\/#The_Penalty_That_Broke_French_Dominance\" title=\"The Penalty That Broke French Dominance\">The Penalty That Broke French Dominance<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/spain-2-0-france-la-roja-are-in-the-final-and-it-was-never-as-close-as-the-score-suggests\/#Salibas_Exit_Changes_Everything\" title=\"Saliba&#8217;s Exit Changes Everything\">Saliba&#8217;s Exit Changes Everything<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/spain-2-0-france-la-roja-are-in-the-final-and-it-was-never-as-close-as-the-score-suggests\/#58th_Minute_%E2%80%94_Porro_Kills_the_Match\" title=\"58th Minute \u2014 Porro Kills the Match\">58th Minute \u2014 Porro Kills the Match<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/spain-2-0-france-la-roja-are-in-the-final-and-it-was-never-as-close-as-the-score-suggests\/#Mbappe_Chased_Not_Given\" title=\"Mbapp\u00e9: Chased, Not Given\">Mbapp\u00e9: Chased, Not Given<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/spain-2-0-france-la-roja-are-in-the-final-and-it-was-never-as-close-as-the-score-suggests\/#Spain_Hold_France_Fade\" title=\"Spain Hold, France Fade\">Spain Hold, France Fade<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><i>Watch Spain&#8217;s road to the <\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\"><i>FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122<\/i><\/a><i> Final live on ZEE 5 \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/myaccount\/subscription?plan-ref=0-11-7467&amp;asset-ref=0-6-4z5914493&amp;visibility=SELECTED&amp;context=FIFA\">ZEE5 FIFA Subscription<\/a> to the Quarterly Plan at \u20b9799 and don&#8217;t miss a single match.<\/i><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Penalty_That_Broke_French_Dominance\"><\/span><b>The Penalty That Broke French Dominance<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>France had actually looked purposeful in the opening exchanges. Bradley Barcola threatened early on the left, and there was enough energy in France&#8217;s pressing to suggest this would be a proper contest. Then came the eighth minute \u2014 Adrien Rabiot pulled down Dani Olmo just outside the box and picked up a yellow card. \u00c1lex Baena&#8217;s resulting free-kick was struck directly into the wall, but the caution on Rabiot would have significant consequences later.<\/p>\n<p>Then came the disaster. Lamine Yamal read the flight of a high, looping ball into the box perfectly. He exploded into the space, and wedged his body in front of Digne just a split-second early enough. Digne, unaware of Yamal, kicked through him rather than the ball. The contact was undeniable. The penalty was given. Mikel Oyarzabal stepped up, waited, and slotted low to Maignan&#8217;s right. Spain 1-0. For the first time in this entire FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122, France were behind.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Salibas_Exit_Changes_Everything\"><\/span><b>Saliba&#8217;s Exit Changes Everything<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Eight minutes later, France&#8217;s half deteriorated further. William Saliba, who had been cleared to play despite missing training earlier in the week, could not continue. He limped off in the 30th minute and was replaced by Maxence Lacroix. Losing your best defender, eight minutes after conceding a penalty, against a Spain attack built entirely around exploiting half-spaces at pace \u2014 it was the worst possible timing. France reached half-time still at 1-0, but carrying an injury problem and a structural weakness they could not simply coach away at the break.<\/p>\n<p>Deschamps also sacrificed Rabiot at half-time. The cautioned midfielder was a liability \u2014 one more reckless challenge and France would have been down to ten men. Kouadio Kon\u00e9 came on with instructions to press harder and win the midfield battle that Spain had owned through the first half.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"58th_Minute_%E2%80%94_Porro_Kills_the_Match\"><\/span><b>58th Minute \u2014 Porro Kills the Match<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The second goal was outstanding. Spain won the ball high up the pitch, played quickly and vertically, and Pedro Porro cut inward from the right flank with purpose. A sharp give-and-go with Dani Olmo created a yard of space \u2014 and Porro needed nothing more. He slid a side-footed finish around Maignan at the near post. Clinical. Precise. And completely characteristic of how Spain have played all tournament \u2014 simple, fast, and devastating in transition.<\/p>\n<p>At 2-0 on the hour, France&#8217;s night was effectively over. Their defensive record had been surrendered. Their tactical plan \u2014 built on keeping it tight and relying on individual brilliance to unlock Spain \u2014 had produced nothing of substance.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Mbappe_Chased_Not_Given\"><\/span><b>Mbapp\u00e9: Chased, Not Given<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The captain tried. In the 76th minute, he picked the ball up deep, drove forward on one of his characteristic surging runs, and threatened to breach the Spanish backline before Lamine Yamal stopped him with a deliberate tactical foul. No booking \u2014 a calculation Yamal and the Spanish bench made without hesitation. It summed up how Spain managed Mbapp\u00e9 throughout the match: cut off his supply and reduce the space in front of him. He did not get a single shot on target throughout the 90 minutes.<\/p>\n<p>Demb\u00e9l\u00e9, too, was quiet. He drove at defenders at moments but without the consistency that had defined his run to this point. In added time, he managed to get a sight of goal and sent a tame effort straight at Unai Sim\u00f3n. That, in a single image, captured France&#8217;s second half. Plenty of the ball. No real threat.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Spain_Hold_France_Fade\"><\/span><b>Spain Hold, France Fade<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Deschamps turned to Theo Hern\u00e1ndez and Rayan Cherki in the final ten minutes, hoping youth and energy might produce something. It did not. Spain&#8217;s defensive structure \u2014 Rodri anchoring, Laporte and Cubars\u00ed commanding the air, Cucurella relentless on the left \u2014 absorbed everything France threw at them without alarm. Not one moment of genuine danger.<\/p>\n<p>The final whistle confirmed it. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/sports\/football\/fifa-world-cup\/2026\/match-clips\/0-6-4z5974253\/fra-vs-esp-quickfire-highlights-fifa-world-cup-2026\/0-1-6z51004107?utm_source=GoogleOneBox&amp;utm_medium=GoogleSearch&amp;utm_campaign=OneBox_quick_fire_highlight\"><strong>Spain 2-0 France<\/strong><\/a>. La Roja are through to the FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122 Final. The world&#8217;s best attacking team in this tournament \u2014 France \u2014 were made to look ordinary by a Spanish side that was simply better.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><i>Spain are in the FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122 Final \u2014 watch all the build-up and the match itself live on ZEE 5, India&#8217;s home of the World Cup.<\/i><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><i>Disclaimer: Subscription pack prices are subject to change from time to time. Please visit the subscription page for the most up-to-date pricing information.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Spain are in the FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122 Final. France \u2014 tournament favorites, holders of the best attacking record in the competition \u2014 were beaten comprehensively at the Dallas Stadium. Two goals. A clean sheet. And a performance that made Kylian Mbapp\u00e9 largely irrelevant for 90 minutes. Luis de la Fuente&#8217;s side head to the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":17355,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"ub_ctt_via":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3019],"tags":[3031,3598,3597,3544],"class_list":["post-17397","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fifa-world-cup-2026","tag-fifa-world-cup-2026","tag-finals","tag-france-vs-spain-match-report","tag-semi-finals"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1132x400-86.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Sourav K","author_link":"https:\/\/www.zee5.com\/global\/blog\/author\/sourav-k\/"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Spain 2-0 France: La Roja Are In the Final \u2014 And It Was Never As 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