Read for 5 minutesUpdated: 15 July 2026 09:35 PM IST
France had chances, before Pedro Porro put Mike Magnan past Mike Magnan, Mikel Oyarzabal’s penalty corner and Lucas Digne kicked Lamine Yamal inside the box.
Ousmane Dembele found Kylian Mbappe on goal. This was the only occasion where the Spanish defense was napping – Pedro Porro was roughly 15 meters behind Mbappe. And yet, an incredible recovery run prevented the French captain from scoring.
Despite being approximately 15 meters behind, Pedro Porro prevented Kylian Mbappe from scoring from this position. (Zee5 screenshot)
It may seem like an isolated moment, but an accumulation of such moments led Spain to a 2-0 semi-final win over France. The scoreline does not flatter for cheating. Blessed with the most fearsome front quartet in the tournament, the French scored 0.48 expected goals. Just three attempts on target – two in injury time. The French who had scored in their last 19 matches. pointless blunt
Here’s how Luis de la Fuente outsmarted Didier Deschamps.
As happened | France vs Spain, FIFA World Cup semi-final
Spain goes left
Spain went left against France and it turned out to be the right decision.
La Roja played mainly on the right side in the last two matches. Against Belgium, 28 times from the left to 37 times from the right into the final third. A simple explanation for this is the flourishing partnership between Pedro Porro and Lamine Yamal on the right. Add Pau Cubarsí’s line-breaking passing to the right center — the highest in Spain’s squad entering the match — and the way seemed clear.
Story continues below this ad
But Didier Deschamps predicted it. Mbappe was instructed to pin down Qubarsi and block the passing lane, while Bradley Barcola replaced Desiree Douy to track Poro’s overlapping runs with his quick pace.
It worked for the first 20 minutes. Spain produced 0.05 xG. One attempt. Deschamps underestimated de la Fuente’s patience.
Spain had to settle for a 0-0 draw in a slugfest. France, given all their invasion wealth, did not. A switch was inevitable. And so it happened — Ousmane Dembele and Michel Olisse swapped positions.
The invitation Spain had been waiting for.
Ollis’ defensive work never matched his elegance on the ball. Realizing the vulnerability of the French right flank, Spain overloaded the left flank. Cukure was daring to be left-handed, while Alex Bayna stepped in, pulling his marker Jules Kounde. With Cubarcy pinned back, Aymeric Laporte took over to break the streak.
Story continues below this ad
The opening goal came directly from that adjustment. Laporte released Cuquera, whose unhurried cross found Lucas Digne for a clumsy foul. Penalty. 1-0.
The set-up that led to Spain’s penalty: Alex Baena drifted in and dragged Jules Conde with him, leaving Marc Cuquera to occupy the left-winger position. (Zee5 screenshot)
Lie 9 of Lie 9
Against Deschamps’ man-to-man defense, de la Fuente devised an ingenious plan. Spain’s top player was often not Mikel Oyarzabal but Dani Olmo. Positional confusion paved the way for the second goal.
Oyarzabal’s decoy run pulled his marker with him before the full-back calmly finished beyond Mike Maignan, opening up a central lane for Olmo to combine with Porro.
Mikel Oyarzabal’s decoy run opened space for Dani Olmo. (Zee5 screenshot)
Olmo was also a linchpin of the Spanish press. A similar sequence led to another goal when Maignan, rushing under pressure, cleared straight to Bayana.
Story continues below this ad
Mike Mignon misses his shot due to pressure from Olmo. (Zee5 screenshot)
Unai Simon: More than a shot-stopper
Unai Simon will rightly get plaudits for becoming the first goalkeeper to keep six clean sheets in a single World Cup, but his impact goes far beyond shot-stopping.
Simon is second among 32 players. His long ball in the 35th minute left Bayana unmarked and the winger would have been awarded a penalty had he completed his run.
Unai Simon’s ball split the French defence. (Zee5 screenshot)
That aside, his outing has been flawless. He spurned three potential goals with his outings in the 42nd, 81st and 82nd minutes.
The timing of Simons’ outing was impeccable. (Zee5 screenshot)
Non-negotiable
One of de la Fuente’s main tenets is equality in defense. “Defending is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone should defend with the same intensity,” he said during the 2021 U-21 Euros.
Story continues below this ad
Lamina Yamal is no exception. In the 76th minute, the Spanish wunderkind tracked down Mbappe and tackled the French captain. Compare this with Spain’s second goal. Despite coming in seconds ahead, Dew does not track his runner, Poro.
In de la Fuente’s Spain, the Lamine Yamal was also not exempt from defensive duties. (AP Photo)
“We’ve recaptured the spirit of 2010. We were against one of the best teams in the world, but it was against the ?best team in the world,'” De La Fuente said after the match.
Indeed, Spain are looking like their 2010 self. And, they’re 90 — possibly 120 — minutes away from being the undisputed best team in the world.