Spain are into the World Cup final after a dominant victory over France, with Luis de la Fuente’s side keeping a clean sheet in six of their seven games at the tournament. They will face either Argentina or England in Sunday’s final, going in as favourites.
France managed just three attempts on target and must now prepare for the third-place play-off. Former Premier League champion Chris Sutton, who attended the match for BBC Radio 5 Live, was emphatic in his assessment. “Spain scalped France — they flattened France,” he said. “We have given France so much praise in this tournament, but they were swatted aside by silky Spain. In the main, Spain have outfought and outplayed this French team.”
Roy Keane was equally cutting on ITV. “France were not playing as a team. Brilliant individuals not playing as a team,” he said. “Spain have been absolutely brilliant — an absolute joy to watch.”
De la Fuente was met with scepticism when appointed Spain boss in December 2022, with some asking “Luis de la Who?” The 65-year-old had come from managing Spain’s under-19s, under-21s and under-23s, and was seen as a low-key federation appointment. He has since delivered a Nations League title in 2023, Euro 2024 glory, and now a World Cup final appearance. Spain have also equalled Italy’s record for the longest unbeaten run in international football, stretching to 37 matches.
Lamine Yamal has never lost a game for Spain and has started 12 games at the World Cup and Euros combined, winning all of them — the best 100% win rate of any European player across the two competitions when starting. The five European players with the most combined appearances at the World Cup and European Championship without ever losing all play for Spain: Aymeric Laporte (22), Oyarzabal (20), Fabian Ruiz (16), Mikel Merino (14) and Yamal (14). If England beat Argentina in Atlanta on Wednesday, Sunday’s final will be a repeat of the Euro 2024 final.
Image credit: BBC Sport / BBC Sport
