Spain is through to the World Cup final thanks to a dominant 2-0 win over pre-tournament favourites France.Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring from the spot after Lucas Digne kicked Lamine Yamal as he attempted to clear the ball.Player of the match Pedro Porro sealed victory in the second half after a sublime one-two in the penalty area with Dani Olmo.The tournament favourite never got going as European champions Spain dictated play from start to finish in a complete all-round display."From the start to the end we played a great game," Porro said."Of course we knew [having the ball] was one of the things that would take us closer to the final."Their counter attack is their strong suit and stopping that was key."For France, looking to make their third-straight World Cup final, the inquest will be swift and damning.Having swatted aside all-comers at this tournament, scoring a whopping 13 goals in the process, the French side never looked like scoring, reduced to pot shots from distance.Former French captain Patrick Viera said Les Bleus "were really bad".Kylian Mbappe and Rodri compete for the ball. (Getty Images: Shaun Botterill)"We are all really disappointed by the result but mostly by the performance," he told ITV."We needed our top players to perform today and they didn't do it. It wasn't one or two that were missing, all of them were missing."France managed just 10 total shots, their lowest of any game in the tournament thus far, and had captain Kylian Mbappé looking an increasingly frustrated figure up top.Digne was given a torrid time by Yamal, who was a constant threat down the right side one day after his 19th birthday.But all of the Spanish side excelled, controlling midfield and creating a suffocating blanket through which the French attack could never penetrate.Spain will now play in its first World Cup final since it won the trophy in 2010, meeting either England or Argentina in New Jersey on Monday morning AEST.Look back on how all the action unfolded in our live blogPinnedWed 15 Jul 2026 at 4:58amWed 15 Jul 2026 at 4:58amLive updates: France vs SpainCollapse all postsFilter PostsAll95Key Events9Goals2Comments6Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 7:49amWed 15 Jul 2026 at 7:49amTime for us to say goodbyeBy Simon Smale(Getty Images)Well, we're going to wrap things up here.Spain were ominously superb today.France had all the firepower in the world at their disposal, but couldn't breach the Spanish defence.Incredibly, they couldn't even get close enough to get many shots away at all.Spain are into the final, their first since 2010.They are, you'd have to think, overwhelming favourites to make it two-from-two, whoever it is they play in it.We will find out who their opponent will be tomorrow, when England takes on Argentina.We'll have a full live blog of that game, as you'd expect.So we'll look forward to seeing you then!Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 7:43amWed 15 Jul 2026 at 7:43amYamal remains perfectBy Simon SmaleLamine Yamal has had some criticism (mad, given he's only 19) for not turning up at this tournament.And he wasn't incredible today either. Chris Sutton on the BBC said he was probably Spain's worst player, although that isn't necessarily damning given how well Spain played collectively.But he remains an incredibly good luck charm for Spain in major tournaments.With a record like that, you'd be a brave man to not start him, not that there's any suggestion that you would drop him.Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 7:40amWed 15 Jul 2026 at 7:40amSpain have still conceded just one goal all tournamentBy Simon SmaleDefence wins championships, and Spain kept France out - Joe MAdditionally, they are the first team ever to keep six clean sheets at a single tournament.Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 7:26amWed 15 Jul 2026 at 7:26amPlaying in a World Cup is 'dream come true'By Simon SmaleSpeaking of Pedro Porro, he's just been interviewed by the host broadcaster."It's a dream come true. Truly, it was my biggest dream," he says."Very, very happy for the team."From the start to the end we played a great game. We did everything possible today to be able to go through."We knew we were facing a very, very tough team and we did everything so well. "He noted that it was key to stop France playing their home game."Of course, we knew this [having the ball] was one of the things that would take us closer to the final," he says."Their counterattack is their strong suit and stopping that was key."Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 7:24amWed 15 Jul 2026 at 7:24amI promise you want me nowhere near any goalBy Simon SmaleSimon is trying to give me a heart attack! Stay near the goal, please!!!- KikiIn either defensive of offensive capability ...Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 7:23amWed 15 Jul 2026 at 7:23amPedro Porro is player of the matchBy Simon Smale(Getty Images)There were at least 11 players in white who could have been named to be honest.Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 7:22amWed 15 Jul 2026 at 7:22amMatch statsBy Simon SmaleHere's how the post-match stats look.Spain scored with each shot they had on target in the match.Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 7:18amWed 15 Jul 2026 at 7:18amThe inquiry will begin in earnestBy Simon SmalePhew! Well done Spain. I feel a French inquisition coming on to determine how their form was all for naught in this one... that would include betting patterns. Okay, can England spring one on Argentina? See you tomorrow.- Big BenWed 15 Jul 2026 at 7:17amWed 15 Jul 2026 at 7:17amFrance's top players 'missing'By Simon SmaleFormer France captain Patrick Vieira is hugely disappointed with his fellow countrymen.Speaking on UK station ITV, the ex-Arsenal man said the top players went missing."It was a big expectation of France to win the World Cup," he says."We are all really disappointed by the result but mostly by the performance, because we needed our top players to perform today and they didn't do it."It wasn't one or two that were missing. All of them were missing."Collectively, we were really bad."Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 7:14amWed 15 Jul 2026 at 7:14amContrasting tearsBy Simon SmaleWed 15 Jul 2026 at 7:12amWed 15 Jul 2026 at 7:12amYepBy Simon SmaleHas a goalkeeper ever one Player of the Tournament at a WC?- JamesThe great Oliver Kahn did when Germany won in 2002.Toni Schumacher came second to some bloke call Diego Maradona in 1986.Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 7:11amWed 15 Jul 2026 at 7:11amSpain on one hell of a runBy Simon SmaleWed 15 Jul 2026 at 7:09amWed 15 Jul 2026 at 7:09amSpain are now 37 games unbeatenBy Simon SmaleI mean, that's quite something.Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 7:09amWed 15 Jul 2026 at 7:09amSpain 'played the French off the park'By Simon SmaleFormer England striker Chris Sutton has his say on the game for the BBC."Spain scalped France. They flattened France," he says."We have given France so much praise in this tournament, but they were swatted aside by silky Spain."They played the French off the park."Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 7:06amWed 15 Jul 2026 at 7:06amThe end of an eraBy Simon Smale(Getty Images)Didier Dechamps bows out as coach of France, having won one World Cup, finished runner-up in the next, and now a beaten semifinalist in the third.He could still, of course, finish third in this one – He and France will play that game on Sunday morning (AEST) – but for all intents and purposes, his time is over.The end of a sparkling era for French football.Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 7:02amWed 15 Jul 2026 at 7:02amVamos!By Simon SmaleVIVA ESPANA!!!!!!- KikiKey EventWed 15 Jul 2026 at 6:59amWed 15 Jul 2026 at 6:59amFT: SPAIN IS INTO THE FINAL OF THE WORLD CUPBy Simon Smale(Getty Images)The favourites have faltered!France will not play in the final, as it seemed destined that they would.Arguably the best team in the tournament has been comprehensively outclassed by a wonderful Spanish team that certainly has the wood over their French brethren at the moment.It was a staggeringly good display from Spain.They were immaculate.France simply had no answer to the European champions.Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 6:59amWed 15 Jul 2026 at 6:59am90+7' Chance FranceBy Simon SmaleSimón once again denies a fierce strike from Dembélé.The ball is parried out to Mbappé, but he curls his effort well over the bar.Didier Dechamps has started to shakes hands with his backroom staff.Wed 15 Jul 2026 at 6:57amWed 15 Jul 2026 at 6:57am90+5' Chance FranceBy Simon SmaleThe lesser spotted Ousmane Dembélé gets the ball on the right side of the penalty area, checks his run and then blasts a ball straight into the gloves of Unai Simón.Email address