Sekolapedia – 15 July 2026 | Spain secured a commanding 2-0 victory over France in the World Cup semifinal held in Dallas, putting an end to the French campaign while extending their own historic run. The match, defined by technical mastery and tactical cohesion, saw France struggle to find their rhythm, a challenge compounded significantly when star defender William saliba was forced off the pitch midway through the first half. The loss of saliba, who has been a pillar of strength for both his club and country, left a void in the French defensive line that Spain’s relentless attack was quick to exploit.
The deadlock was broken in the 22nd minute after a moment of misfortune for France’s left-back Lucas Digne. A defensive error led to a penalty, which Mikel Oyarzabal coolly converted. Shortly after falling behind, the French team suffered another major setback. In the 29th minute, saliba went down on the turf. Despite having managed a nagging back issue throughout the tournament, the Arsenal defender could not continue, forcing coach Didier Deschamps to replace him with Maxence Lacroix. This substitution disrupted the stability of the French backline, which had successfully kept clean sheets throughout the knockout stages prior to this encounter.
Spain’s superiority was further cemented in the second half when Pedro Porro finished a patient, clinical passing move to double the lead. While France attempted to mount a comeback, led by their star-studded attacking lineup, the Spanish defense remained impenetrable. Kylian Mbappe and his fellow forwards were largely neutralized by a disciplined Spanish unit that allowed only one shot on target for the entirety of the match. For France, the absence of saliba in the latter stages proved to be a critical turning point that prevented them from regaining the composure needed to challenge the European champions.
Following the match, the focus shifted to the recovery of saliba, with his club, Arsenal, issuing a supportive message wishing him a speedy return to fitness. Meanwhile, Spain looks ahead to Sunday’s final at MetLife Stadium, where they will face the winner of the England versus Argentina semifinal. Having reached their first final since 2010, Spain’s performance serves as a testament to their evolution under Luis de la Fuente, proving that their collective structure is capable of dismantling even the most feared individual talents in world football.
This semifinal defeat leaves France to contest the third-place match, an outcome that highlights the fine margins in high-stakes international football. While the French side will reflect on their missed opportunities and the unfortunate injury to their defensive leader, the story of this World Cup remains the rise of a Spanish team that has combined technical flair with a newfound defensive resilience, leaving little doubt that they are currently the side to beat on the global stage.
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