Key events
Nick Ames was in Dallas, and his report has landed. Here it is! Congratulations to Spain, who will have the chance to win their second World Cup on Sunday; commiserations to France, who will have to wait at least another four years for their third; and thanks to you, dear reader, for sticking with this MBM. You’ll come back tomorrow? You might have heard there’s a match on …
Outgoing France manager Didier Deschamps gives his verdict. “The players are devastated but we have to be clear-headed … technically we were second best … that is on us … we lacked technical precision and energy … the Spanish are very good at breaking up moves by reading interceptions and passes … we would have liked to cause them more problems going forward … I don’t want to take anything away from Spain, a really good team which knows how to master its plan, but we lacked offensive aggression … although aggression might not be the right term … they forced us to defend … we did not manage to make this game difficult for them.”
France’s manager Didier Deschamps admitted his team were second best. Photograph: Sam Wasson/EPA Spain coach Luis de la Fuente speaks. “We started almost four years ago with an idea and we’ve been faithful to that idea and it’s brought us here … today we faced one of the best national teams in the world … but in front of them they had the best team in the world … that is different … these players deserve everything … day after day they’ve showed their commitment, their solidarity, their generosity, their talent … they make the difficult look easy.”
Of course that only works when you count last summer’s Nations League final defeat on penalties to Portugal as a technical draw. Which it technically is. But what a run Spain have gone on since that fateful day at Hampden in 2023, 1,204 days ago. They’ve won the 2023 Nations League and Euro 2024, got to another Nations League final, and now their second-ever World Cup final. Teams they’ve beaten along the way: Italy (twice), Norway, Germany, France (three times), England, Switzerland (twice), Denmark (twice), Uruguay, Portugal and Belgium. Oh, and some payback for Scotland. Though they were held to that goalless draw by Cape Verde almost exactly one month ago, so nobody’s perfect.
Spain have now gone 38 competitive matches unbeaten. But who were the last team to beat them when something was on the line? Why, I’m glad you asked, dear reader, because I have the answer.
While we’re on that subject, Pedro Porro has just been named player of the match. “It’s a dream come true … my biggest dream … from the start to the end we played a great game … we knew we were facing a very, very tough team and we did everything so well … this is a team effort, it’s not about me … I just want to say congratulations to everybody for producing such a great performance … now we keep going … at the moment I am dead but we will recover and then give everything for the final.”
Spain’s Pedro Porro celebrates at the end of the match. Photograph: Rob Newell/CameraSport/Getty Images Post-match postbag: addendum (and this one’s worth standing alone). “Whatever happens tomorrow a Spurs defender will be a World Cup winner by Sunday” – Sean Boiling
Post-match postbag. “One of the Icelandic commentators put it perfectly, Spain played France like an accordion, stretching them back and forth. Spain made all the music tonight” – Kári Tulinius
“Ruiz was superb. And I’ve never understood the Rodri hype quite like I did seeing him in person today. What a player. A very well-coached outfit calmly held off the superstar ballers, with a fair amount to spare” – Tanay Padhi
“I’m disappointed at the waste of potential and feel for the incredibly talented French team that seem to have just collapsed under the Spanish grind. I hope the French powers that be don’t conclude they need to go back to playing quite defensive football” – Alexandra Toader
“I’m off work in my Olise jersey crying into my glass of sauv blanc. I like fun teams so got real into France. During France’s last match against Morocco I was like: what’s up with Digne? He’s not fit to be on the field with the rest of the France team. Today he gives a dumb penalty, looks painfully slow, gets beaten every time. I feared France’s poor defense would be their downfall” – Liisa Sletzinger
“This feels almost like Brazil in the 98 final territory, like something’s happened we’re not party to. Just bizarre how nothing-y France have been” – Tom Hopkins
“I don’t know what’s the bigger shock, Spain beating France, or Montrose beating Dundee United. Deschamps / Goodwin OUT! What’s the French for effing spewing?” – Simon McMahon
“Spain should be rooting for England, because if they face Argentina, Messi’s going to chip Unai Simon four times to set the record for goals in the final” – Beau Dure
Spain will play either Argentina or England in the World Cup final on Sunday! They were magnificent from the very first kick until the last. Completely dominant. France had a collective off day, but that’s because Spain were relentless. Rodri his usual regal self in the middle, Cucurella a ball of energy, Oyarzabal clinical, Olmo and Yamal elegant. And what a finish by Porro! France by contrast had nothing. Poor Digne had a nightmare, Tchouameni looked leggy, Olise was surprisingly non-existent, Mbappe blunt and low on ideas. As an ashen-faced Didier Deschamps stares bleakly into the distance, contemplating the end of the road, his opposite number Luis de la Fuente radiates dignified delight. His team were simply outstanding today, and on this showing, they’ll take some beating in the final. Over to you, Argentina and England.
FULL TIME: France 0-2 Spain The whistle goes, and Spain are in their second World Cup final! They’ve been excellent. France didn’t show up.
Kylian Mbappe of France reacts after the defeat. Photograph: Kevin C Cox/Getty Images Spain celebrate at the end. Photograph: Albert Pena/EPA 90 min +7: Dembele, raging against the dying of the light, cuts in from the right and draws another block from Simon. Then Mbappe aims for the top right but it’s high and way wide. That’ll be that!
90 min +6: Spain are flicking the ball around, in total control.
90 min +5: Dembele chops in from the right and tries to bend a shot around Simon and towards the top left. Not enough curl. The keeper claims. That’s pretty much the best France have managed.
90 min +4: Torres flicks a pass down the left for Williams, who enters the box and ripples the side netting from a tight angle.
90 min +3: Spain continue to hog the ball and eat up the clock. France are going out in the most flaccid manner imaginable. Spain have done a proper number on them.
90 min +2: Spain pass it around the back, and the crowd provide the soundtrack. You know how.
90 min +1: The first of seven additional minutes, and Doue sends an inswinger in from the left. It’s a dangerous ball, but nobody in blue gambles. Goal kick.
90 min: Cherki twinkles his toes and nearly finds Mbappe with a cute flick inside the Spainish box, but Cucurella comes across to clear. He celebrates as though scoring a goal. It’s as good as.
89 min: Mbappe does indeed blooter the ball … miles over the bar. That’s awful. He crunches up his nose in anguish. Yamal goes up the other end only to lose a wrestling match with Hernandez. You’ve seen penalties given for less, but the referee isn’t interested at all.
88 min: … but here’s something for France, as Yamal clumsily clatters into Doue, just outside the box on the left. Mbappe will surely just blooter this.
87 min: There’s a weird lack of urgency from the French. It’s been apparent since the start of the second half, but with time close to running out, is in sharp focus now.
86 min: Mbappe, a study in frustration, lunges in on Simon as the keeper lets the clock run down before eventually picking up the ball. And there goes more time.
85 min: Dembele is stopped unfairly by Rodri as he makes good down the left. He takes the resulting free kick himself … and with everyone up, fails to beat the first man. What a waste. That pretty much sums France up today.
84 min: Porro and Baena are replaced by Williams and Llorente.
83 min: Hernandez chases after a ball down the inside-left channel. Simon comes off his line to smother, taking a brave whack to the head. Goal kick.
Spain’s goalkeeper Unai Simon falls after colliding with France’s Theo Hernandez. Photograph: David J Phillip/AP 81 min: A simple long ball down the middle releases Mbappe. Simon comes out of his box to head clear. The ball drops to Doue, and with Simon on walkabout, he’s got a real chance to reduce France’s arrears! But as he cuts in from the left, he hesitates, allowing Simon to get back into his box. The keeper star-jumps to smother Doue’s weak long-range shot, and that could have been a game-changer. But here we are.
Spain’s Unai Simon saves a long range shot from France’s Desire Doue. Photograph: Agustín Marcarian/Reuters 79 min: Hernandez is sent scampering down the left but his low cross is easily smothered by Simon. You would say France are running out of ideas, but they haven’t had a single one all day.
78 min: Spain make a double change, sending on Pedri and the late, late goal machine Merino for Olmo and Ruiz. When play restarts, Baena crosses from the left. Torres, eight yards out, aims a header towards the top left. Inches wide, with Maignan rooted to the spot. So close to game over.
77 min: Nothing comes of the free kick, and Didier Deschamps is furious.
76 min: Two superstars collide as Yamal brings down Mbappe, in flight down the left. It’s a free kick, but ludicrously, because Yamal came straight through the back of his man, not a yellow card.
Spain’s Lamine Yamal, left, brings down France’s Kylian Mbappe. Photograph: Julio Cortez/AP 74 min: Oyarzabal, having scored his fifth goal of this tournament, is replaced by Torres.
72 min: “Digne against Yamal must count as human-rights violation,” observes krishnamoorthy v. And on that note, as play restarts, Digne is one of two French players withdrawn, the surprisingly ineffective Olise the other. On come Hernandez and Cherki.
71 min: Deschamps gives his team the what-for. “A meeting between two of the most decorated, star-studded and talented teams in the history of sport is about to be decided by Lucas Digne and Pedro Porro,” notes Chris Paraskevas, one eyebrow hoisted high. “What a wonderful World Cup it’s been!”
69 min: … and that’s drinks. White port and tonics all round!
68 min: … Simon claims and goes long, looking for Yamal down the right. Maignan comes miles out of his box to head clear. France veering close to desperate-measures territory. “The French are being coqblocked,” quips Katerina Petta. “Spelling matters.”
67 min: … though it’s a risky tactic, and Mbappe picks up possession on the right. He cracks a low drive towards the bottom left; Cucurella deflects out for a corner, from which …
66 min: France are on the front foot at last. Spain seem happy enough to sit back, hold their shape, and wait for the hydration break.
65 min: One corner leads to another, and the second sees Tchouameni, at the near post, flick harmlessly high and wide from six yards.
64 min: Mbappe puts his head down and races past Porro on the left. He smashes a shot goalwards from a tight angle. Simon is forced to turn around for a corner. Basic but effective.
63 min: France look utterly disjointed. And now Spain have them exactly where they want them, as they pass and move in their time-honoured style. Spain have been as impressive as France have been poor.
62 min: Yamal zipped past Digne with ease, there, and didn’t have to go so early. France can consider themselves extremely lucky to still be in this semi-final!
61 min: Spain have the ball in the net for the third time. Yamal is released down the right and enters the box, dropping a shoulder before whip-curling a finish into the top left. France are saved by the offside flag.
Spain’s Lamine Yamal scores a goal that was later disallowed. Photograph: Hannah McKay/Reuters 60 min: On the touchline, Didier Deschamps looks on in open-mouthed astonishment. Hands on hips. His team were ripped apart there. So slick. And brave, too: Olmo took a whack when playing that one-two with Porro.
GOAL! France 0-2 Spain (Porro 58) Olmo strides into space down the middle. He should release Oyarzabal with a pass down the middle but doesn’t make it. The play’s first switched to the left, then to the right for Porro, who plays a wall pass off Olmo and breaks into the box. Porro takes a couple of touches and sidefoots past Maignan and into the bottom right. What a move! What a finish! What trouble France are in now!
Pedro Porro makes it 2-0. Photograph: David Ramos/Getty Images Ecstasy for Spain. Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images 57 min: France have to shuffle the deck up front, and send on Doue for Barcola.
55 min: Barcola finds himself in a bit of space down the left. He’s got options in the middle, but decides to take on Porro instead. He knocks the ball past the defender, and rounds him on the outside, but he’s taken a heavy touch and Simon sorts things out. It’s just not clicking for France today.
Spain’s keeper Unai Simon claims the ball ahead of France’s Bradley Barcola. Photograph: Omar Aziz/Reuters 53 min: Yamal spins the out-of-sorts Digne on the right and tears off. Barcola takes up the chase and eventually takes the ball off his man. “Òu est le Thuram de nos jours?” wonders Niall Mullen.
52 min: Oyarzabal spins into a little bit of space down the inside-left channel and, from the edge of the box, sends a rising drive over the bar. France have not flown out of the blocks in this second half. They kind of needed to.
51 min: Lacroix needlessly barges into the back of Oyarzabal, who takes the opportunity to stay down awhile. Spain already working the clock when they can. From the resulting free kick, Yamal is pinged clear down the right by Porro, but he can’t lob Maignan from a tight angle. Then the flag pops up for offside anyway.
49 min: Spain get the ball back and do it themselves. “I’m switching between TSN, FOX, and others,” begins Brian Hayden. “Every commentator and former ref has (for the first time this tournament maybe) been unanimous that it was the clearest penalty you could want, and I agree. It doesn’t matter if Yamal was trying to ‘honestly’ play the ball or if it was an accident — if you full-on kick someone high it’s a foul all day every day. It’s your responsibility to be aware of other players and not kick them four feet off the ground. It’s basically the definition of reckless.”
47 min: France start the half with a little Spanish-style patient possession. Meanwhile Simon McMahon is watching the game in Nice Old Town: “The locals were giving it laldy during the anthems, they’re a bit quieter now. I have my Scotland shirt on of course, just to make them feel a bit better about themselves.”