France eliminated from World Cup after 2-0 semi-final defeat to Spain

France’s World Cup campaign concluded on Tuesday with a 2-0 semi-final loss to Spain at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, denying Les Bleus a place in the final. Entering the match as tournament favourites, France were comprehensively outplayed by the European champions, who secured their spot in the New Jersey final with goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro. The defeat marks a stark contrast to the team’s earlier attacking displays, with the squad described as having folded under the pressure of Spain’s structural control.

Spain opened the scoring in the 22nd minute through a penalty converted by Oyarzabal, before extending their lead just before the hour mark with a goal from Pedro Porro. The match was defined by Spain’s dominance in midfield, where Rodri effectively neutralised France’s creative options. The French side, which had been expected to unlock the Spanish defence, struggled to create significant threats, with the loudest roar of the afternoon occurring during a screen appearance by David and Victoria Beckham rather than any significant French play.

Coach Didier Deschamps acknowledged the disparity in performance, stating that his team was technically second best and accepting responsibility for the result. He noted that the players were devastated but emphasised the need for clarity regarding their shortcomings. The French midfield duo of Adrien Rabiot and Aurélien Tchouameni struggled to contain the opposition; Rabiot received an early yellow card that blunted his aggression, while Tchouameni, affected by a hamstring injury that caused him to miss the previous two games, failed to keep pace with Spain’s tempo.

Key French attackers, including Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembélé, Bradley Barcola, and Desiré Doué, failed to influence the game. Olise, previously in Ballon d’Or conversations, was comprehensively outclassed by Rodri, surrendering possession 20 times and completing zero dribbles. Mbappé’s moment of magic never arrived, and the team’s vaunted forward line appeared strangely powerless against the first side at this World Cup willing and able to go toe-to-toe with them.

Spain will now await the result of the other semi-final to determine their opponent in the final, scheduled for Sunday in New Jersey. The loss follows a previous round where France’s match against Iraq was disrupted by severe weather, resulting in a two-hour and 12-minute delay due to thunderstorms and lightning. As the final whistle blew, Mbappé stood alone on the pitch while teammates reacted with visible despair, highlighting the collapse of a team that had been installed as favourites for the golden trophy.