Spain secured their place in the FIFA World Cup final with a commanding performance against France in Arlington, extending their remarkable winning streak against Les Bleus to three consecutive major tournaments. La Roja produced a display of near-total control to eliminate the 2022 finalists, restricting them to just 0.31 expected goals and no attempts on target until the closing stages.
De la Fuente’s rallying cry
Manager Luis de la Fuente gathered his squad in the dressing room before kick-off and delivered a message of conviction. “We are up against one of the finest lineups on the planet, but we remain the best collective in the world,” he told them. The players responded with a performance that justified their coach’s confidence, executing a disciplined game plan that prioritised unity over individual risk.
The victory marks the third successive semi-final defeat De la Fuente has inflicted upon France, following victories at Euro 2024 and the 2025 Nations League. This latest encounter, however, was defined by its completeness. Spain registered 1.7 expected goals while allowing their opponents their lowest ever total in the metric, and prevented Didier Deschamps’ side from testing goalkeeper Unai Simón for the first three-quarters of the contest.
Dressing room celebration
Inside the dressing room afterwards, the scale of the achievement was not lost on the players. “What a fucking recital!” exclaimed Marc Cucurella, capturing the mood of a squad that had turned a high-pressure occasion into a demonstration of their superiority. Dani Olmo reflected on the journey from Georgia to New York, noting: “It was written: we started in Atlanta and we end in New York.”
The squad celebrated with Jamaican music and pizza as King Felipe telephoned De la Fuente to offer his congratulations. Midfielder Rodri, who described the team as “euphoric,” predicted the final would be “the game of our lives,” though he acknowledged the semi-final performance had already set a benchmark.
Collective over individuals
While much pre-match attention focused on Lamine Yamal facing Kylian Mbappé, Spain’s approach demonstrated their strength as a unit rather than a collection of stars. The 19-year-old Yamal followed tactical instructions to reduce risks and maintain possession, completing the match with minimal turnovers. De la Fuente and Rodri had specifically discussed managing the forward’s composure before the game, ensuring he resisted the urge to force the issue.
De la Fuente rejected suggestions that the team should temper their celebrations until after the final, citing his predecessor Luis Aragonés but distancing himself from that philosophy. “I am not into these ‘literary’ or ‘journalistic’ phrases,” he said. “I value the journey, what we have done. Only one team can win the World Cup and whatever happens this is a success.”
Spain will now contest the final in New York, seeking to cap a campaign that began in Atlanta with a victory that underlined their status as the tournament’s most cohesive force.