Spain dominated France 2-0 in Dallas, punching their ticket to their first World Cup final since 2010! They are now locked in for a Sunday showdown in New Jersey against either England or Argentina. The BBC Sport ratings are in, and they lay out exactly how Spain took control of that semi-final.
La Roja's Dominance Was Unquestionable
Spain brought the heat, and their key players absolutely delivered. Rodri, the captain, was straight up outstanding, suffocating the French midfield from start to finish. He scored a ridiculous 9 out of 10 for his performance, showing why he is absolutely elite. Lamine Yamal, the 19-year-old, totally came alive in this semi-final, earning the penalty that kicked off Spain's scoring. Even though he had a goal disallowed later, his impact was massive. Pedro Porro scored a beautiful goal himself, his third goal involvement this tournament, sending his country to the final! In defense, Aymeric Laporte was cool and composed, finishing with over 90% passing accuracy, while Pau Cubarsi was a commanding presence. Unai Simon even bagged his sixth clean sheet in seven matches, making a crucial clearance before Kylian Mbappe could pounce. This team played like they had something to prove.France's World Cup Dream Crumbles
But man, for France, this was a game to forget. Their superstar, Kylian Mbappe, who's been setting this World Cup on fire with his finishing, managed just two touches in Spain's penalty area in the first half! Ousmane Dembele, the Ballon d'Or winner, couldn't impose himself at all, and Michael Olise, known for his assists, had his poorest performance. Lucas Digne's kick on Yamal led to the penalty that opened the scoring, putting them immediately behind. Adrien Rabiot was lucky to stay on after fouling Ruiz, having already been booked earlier. Aurelien Tchouameni, a key player in their run, found France's midfield bullied. And just to rub salt in the wound, William Saliba went off injured after Spain scored, a desperately sad end to his World Cup. Dayot Upamecano made a big block to deny Fabian Ruiz at 1-0, but it was all to no avail. So, the stage is set for Sunday. Spain has proven they can dominate on the biggest stage, and they're bringing that fire to New Jersey. Who they'll face, England or Argentina, is still TBD, but one thing's for sure: Spain is riding a wave of confidence into that World Cup final. You gotta tune in for this one!This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.