France Falls Short Against Spain in FIFA World Cup Semifinal

In a gripping FIFA World Cup semifinal, Spain triumphed over France with a 2-0 victory, sending them to the final. Coach Didier Deschamps acknowledged his team's shortcomings, citing technical errors and missed opportunities. Mikel Oyarzabal's penalty and Pedro Porro's goal secured Spain's win, with Porro earning Player of the Match honors. As Spain prepares for the final, France faces a third-place playoff, where Kylian Mbappe aims to boost his Golden Boot chances. Discover the key moments from this thrilling match.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 15, 2026, 04:46 IST

Deschamps Reflects on France's Defeat

In Texas, on July 15, the head coach of France, Didier Deschamps, acknowledged that his team did not perform up to their usual standards following a 2-0 loss to Spain in the FIFA World Cup semifinal. He noted that Les Bleus suffered due to technical errors and a lack of effectiveness in their offensive play.

After the match, Deschamps expressed the disappointment felt by his players, who had aimed for a spot in the final. "The players are heartbroken because we had high hopes, but we must recognize that we were not at our best technically against a team that controlled the game well," he stated, as reported by FIFA.

Deschamps took responsibility for the outcome, admitting that his team failed to capitalize on their chances against a well-structured Spanish side. "It’s mainly our fault. We didn’t pose enough of a threat in attack and made several technical mistakes on passes that could have led to scoring opportunities. This is the reality at the elite level, even though it stings," he added.

Spain showcased a strong performance at Dallas Stadium, combining solid defense with effective finishing to secure their place in the final. Mikel Oyarzabal scored the first goal from the penalty spot, and Pedro Porro added a second, earning him the Player of the Match title for his outstanding display.

With this victory, Spain advances to the World Cup final, where they will face either England or Argentina at the New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday. Spain's last appearance in a World Cup final was in 2010, where they triumphed with a goal from Andres Iniesta against the Netherlands.

Oyarzabal continued his impressive form, bringing his total to 18 goals in his last 20 matches for Spain. His penalty also marked him as the sixth player to reach 30 international goals for the national team, joining the ranks of David Villa, Raul, Fernando Torres, Alvaro Morata, and David Silva.

France, who were slight favorites entering the match, initially threatened with Kylian Mbappe, but Spain took the lead when Lamine Yamal earned a penalty after being fouled in the box. Oyarzabal converted the penalty with composure, sending it past goalkeeper Mike Maignan.

Spain quickly extended their lead with Porro, who skillfully combined with Dani Olmo before finishing into the bottom corner.

Despite France's attempts to rally back by bringing on Desire Doue and Rayan Cherki, Spain maintained control of the game. Goalkeeper Unai Simon made crucial saves, and defender Marc Cucurella executed a vital tackle to thwart Mbappe.

The final whistle ignited celebrations among the Spanish squad, while France now prepares for a third-place playoff on Saturday, where Mbappe will have another chance to increase his goal tally in pursuit of the Golden Boot.