Oyarzabal and Porro Sink France in Dallas

Spain are into their first men’s World Cup final since 2010, having demolished France 2-0 in Arlington. Mikel Oyarzabal converted a penalty in the 22nd minute, won courtesy of Lamine Yamal’s persistence, and Pedro Porro doubled the advantage midway through the second half with a slick 1-2 combination alongside Dani Olmo.

France, ranked number one heading into this tournament, simply couldn’t find rhythm. Despite arriving unbeaten and boasting the competition’s top goalscoring record, Didier Deschamps’ side struggled to threaten Unai Simon’s goal all evening. Kylian Mbappe, tied for the Golden Boot, found little space against a disciplined Spanish backline marshaled expertly by Aymeric Laporte and Pau Cubarsi.

Notably, this victory extends an increasingly one-sided rivalry. Spain have now beaten France in three consecutive major semifinals, a streak that speaks to tactical superiority as much as individual quality. Luis de la Fuente’s setup nullified France’s usual attacking threats, forcing Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise into uncharacteristically quiet performances throughout.

Yamal Leads Young Spain Toward Glory

Yamal, celebrating his 19th birthday just a day earlier, continued his sensational tournament form. His movement created the penalty that broke the deadlock, reinforcing his status as the standout talent of this World Cup. Should Spain complete the job on Sunday, he’d join an elite group of teenage world champions.

Spain’s underlying numbers back up their dominance too. Having conceded just once across six matches, their defensive record remains the tournament’s best. Combined with fluid attacking football, that balance has carried them to the brink of a second world title.

Awaiting them on July 19 at MetLife Stadium is the winner of England’s semifinal against Argentina, promising a blockbuster finale to this historic 48 team tournament.

Full tournament coverage continues on the KCPredict blog. Further match details are available via NBC.