The World Cup dream has come to an abrupt end for the French squad. Les Bleus were eliminated in the semi-finals of the 2026 tournament, falling 2-0 to a superior Spanish side. What was anticipated to be a final-caliber match ultimately saw Spain in complete control, as they outmaneuvered a French team that struggled to create any meaningful attacking opportunities.

First half woes: penalty and injury plague Les Bleus

The opening half quickly devolved into a nightmare for the French. Amidst a series of intense physical challenges, the Spanish capitalized on the high-stakes atmosphere, applying relentless pressure. This led to several dangerous fouls, notably Adrien Rabiot’s early challenge on Dani Olmo.

The decisive blow came in the 20th minute when Lucas Digne, caught off guard, brought down Lamine Yamal inside the penalty area. While the contact appeared minimal, it was sufficient for the referee to award a penalty. Mikel Oyarzabal stepped up and calmly converted from the spot, maintaining his perfect penalty record in the tournament and putting Spain ahead.

More misfortune struck around the half-hour mark as William Saliba was forced off the pitch due to injury, with Maxence Lacroix entering the game as his replacement.

Spain’s masterclass culminates in second goal

At halftime, sensing Adrien Rabiot’s growing frustration and risk of a second yellow card, Didier Deschamps opted for a midfield change, bringing on Manu Koné. Despite his impressive performance against Morocco, the AS Roma player couldn’t stem the tide of Spain’s formidable attack.

In the 58th minute, La Roja delivered a masterclass in offensive play to score their second goal. Pedro Porro finished a superb one-two with Dani Olmo, who managed to deliver the ball despite being fouled at the edge of the box, extending Spain’s lead to 2-0. This goal perfectly encapsulated the exceptional form of both players throughout the tournament.

Les Bleus found themselves overwhelmed, and the scoreline almost worsened moments later. Lamine Yamal’s brilliant solo effort, cutting in from the right wing to beat Mike Maignan, was ultimately disallowed in the 61st minute.

Deschamps’ tactical struggles

It cannot be said that Didier Deschamps didn’t try to alter the game’s trajectory. However, his substitutions failed to provide the necessary spark to turn the match around. The introductions of Désiré Doué before the hour mark, followed by Théo Hernandez and Rayan Cherki, did little to threaten Spain’s resolute defense. In contrast, Luis de la Fuente had a strong bench at his disposal and utilized it effectively, bringing on Ferran Torres, Pedri, Mikel Merino, and Nico Williams to maintain control.

The French attempted a late surge with about ten minutes remaining in regular time but struggled to create clear-cut chances or even test the Spanish goalkeeper. A notable opportunity arose when Unai Simon ventured outside his box, but Désiré Doué hesitated, failing to attempt a lob.

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