World Cup favorites France unravel as Spain book s...
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Spain booked their place in Sunday's World Cup final after dismantling France 2-0. Forward Mikel Oyarzabal put manager Luis de la...
Key points
- ARLINGTON, Texas -- Spain booked their place in Sunday's World Cup final after dismantling France 2-0.
- Forward Mikel Oyarzabal put manager Luis de la Fuente's Spain team ahead in the 20th minute from the penalty spot after France left back Lucas Digne was penalized for inadvertently kicking Lamine Yamal in the box.
- For all of France's attacking talent, they ended the game with an expected goals (xG) total of just 0.3 as Spain, the reigning European champions, reached their second World Cup final and first since lifting the trophy in 2010.
- The tournament favorites crashing out will make headlines, and rightly so, but it's worth noting that Spain matched up exceptionally well with manager Didier Deschamps' France crew.
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ARLINGTON, Texas -- Spain booked their place in Sunday's World Cup final after dismantling France 2-0. Forward Mikel Oyarzabal put manager Luis de la Fuente's Spain team ahead in the 20th minute from the penalty spot after France left back Lucas Digne was penalized for inadvertently kicking Lamine Yamal in the box. For all of France's attacking talent, they ended the game with an expected goals (xG) total of just 0.3 as Spain, the reigning European champions, reached their second World Cup final and first since lifting the trophy in 2010. The tournament favorites crashing out will make headlines, and rightly so, but it's worth noting that Spain matched up exceptionally well with manager Didier Deschamps' France crew. -- Gabriele Marcotti Spain book World Cup final place Spain have booked their first World Cup final place since they lifted the trophy in 2010, and this time they'll face one of two intriguing options. Spain rarely play Argentina -- the two sides last faced off in an international friendly in March 2018, which Messi missed through injury, ending in a 6-1 win for Spain.