The World Cup dream for the French team has come to an abrupt end. Les Bleus were eliminated from the 2026 World Cup semi-finals, succumbing to a decisive 2-0 defeat against Spain. What was anticipated as a potential early final turned out to be a one-sided affair, with La Roja firmly in control against a French side that struggled to pose any real threat.

First-half woes for France: penalty and injury misfortune

The opening half unfolded like a nightmare for Les Bleus. Amidst a series of intense physical duels, the Spanish side skillfully leveraged the match’s inherent tension to apply relentless pressure. This approach led to several dangerous fouls, notably Adrien Rabiot’s early challenge on Dani Olmo.

The decisive blow arrived in the 20th minute when Lucas Digne, caught unaware, fouled Lamine Yamal inside the penalty area. While the contact appeared minimal, it was enough for a penalty to be awarded. Mikel Oyarzabal stepped up, maintaining his perfect record from the spot to open the scoring.

Adding to France’s misfortune, William Saliba was forced to leave the field due to injury around the half-hour mark, replaced by Maxence Lacroix.

Spain’s masterclass in the second goal

At halftime, sensing Adrien Rabiot’s growing nervousness and the risk of a second yellow card, Didier Deschamps made a midfield substitution, bringing on Manu Koné. Despite his impressive performance against Morocco, the AS Roma player was unable to stem the tide of Spain’s formidable attack.

In the 58th minute, La Roja delivered a masterclass in offensive play, culminating in their second goal. Pedro Porro was on hand to finish a brilliant one-two with Dani Olmo, who managed to return the ball despite being fouled at the edge of the box. This goal, emblematic of the tournament’s standout performances from both players, effectively sealed the victory.

With France visibly struggling, the scoreline almost worsened moments later. Lamine Yamal’s solo effort, cutting in from the right flank before firing past Mike Maignan, was ultimately disallowed in the 61st minute.

Deschamps’ fruitless tactical efforts

It cannot be said that Didier Deschamps didn’t try to alter the game’s trajectory. However, his substitutions, including the introductions of Désiré Doué before the hour mark, followed by Théo Hernandez and Rayan Cherki, failed to disrupt Spain’s solid defensive block. Conversely, Luis de la Fuente, Spain’s coach, also had formidable options on his bench and deployed them effectively, bringing on Ferran Torres, Pedri, Mikel Merino, and Nico Williams.

As the clock wound down, with roughly ten minutes remaining in regulation, the French made desperate attempts to ignite their attack, but couldn’t find a way to finish or even hit the target. Even when Unai Simon ventured out of his box, Désiré Doué hesitated, missing an opportunity for a lob.

Thus, Spain advances to their first World Cup final since their triumph in 2010. La Roja is now set to face either Argentina or England, who will compete in their own semi-final match on Wednesday evening.