Spain have reached the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup for the first time in 16 years after a convincing 2-nil victory over favourites France on Tuesday.
La Roja came into the the game as underdogs, no thanks to the star power of the French side.
They played a simple, controlled game that focused on midfield control to screen out the furious attacks of Les Bleus, eventually stifling them and preventing them from putting up the show that everyone expected.
France were unable to beat Spain's midfield from the start of the game.
The 2024 UEFA European Championships winners controlled possession to set up a few chances, one of which led to a scuffed clearance and a penalty.
Real Sociedad man, Mikel Oyarzabal, scored from the spot, sending the crowd into a wild frenzy.
Spain dominated the game from the middle of the park, blocking every French foray with controlled midfield screening and expert one-on-one play to slow down France's usually pacy forwards.
The pattern continued in the second half, with Spain using expert linkup play in the middle of the park to set up Dani Olmo, who laid the ball to fullback Pedro Porro for the second goal.
Almost immediately after the restart, they created another chance that saw Lamine Yamal break the French defensive lines to rifle one into the top corner, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
France huffed and puffed but were unable to beat the technique of Spain, and in the end, lost a game the world expected them to win.
The loss sends France to the third place playoff where they would meet either Argentina or England.
It also ends what would have been a historic achievement, as France were gunning for a third straight FIFA World Cup final.
They would have been the third team after Germany and Brazil to achieve this feat.
Spain will now pay attention to the second semifinal, where defending champions Argentina will attempt to reach another final over England, who last won the trophy in 1966.
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