Spain vs France: World reacts to Dallas demolition of Mbappe and his teammates
Spain defeated France 2-0 in the World Cup semi-final, with analysts praising Spain's cohesive team play and tactical dominance. The match was decided by a penalty drawn by Lamine Yamal, highlighting France's defensive struggles.
Why it matters
The result marks a significant moment in the tournament, showcasing Spain's resurgence as a global football power.
“The great Spanish revolution in football transformed the world game in the first decade of the 21st century, and now once more Spain are in a World Cup final having delivered a lesson in Dallas on how to play this game simply and beautifully.
“The France team of 2026 went with barely a whimper: Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise – to borrow a local analogy – corralled into the paddock and the gate closed. The reigning European champions are an unpretentious side, with just the single superstar in Lamine Yamal, but even he has no choice but to work as part of this cohesive, intelligent team.”
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