Spain just knocked France out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a 2-0 semi-final win in Dallas, and defender Aymeric Laporte’s post-match comments were about as celebratory as a tax filing. No champagne. No locker room dances. Just a pointed reminder that the job isn’t done.
The match and the message
Spain’s victory on July 14 at Dallas Stadium sent them to the World Cup final, capping a run that includes the 2024 European Championship and the 2023 UEFA Nations League title.
Laporte, who was born in France and represented them at youth level before switching allegiance to Spain in 2021, became the first player in World Cup history to defeat his country of birth in a semi-final.
“We didn’t celebrate in the locker room after beating France because we don’t want to do things halfway.”
