World Cup semifinal highlights: Spain outscores France 2-0 to reach World Cup final

Kylian Mbappé said France will play hard in the World Cup’s third-place match for coach Didier Deschamps.

Deschamps has said he will step down as France’s coach after the World Cup. He won it as a player in 1998, and again as a coach in 2018. He also led France to the 2022 final.

Mbappé said Tuesday’s semifinal loss to Spain won’t change Deschamps’ legacy.

“Nothing changed about what Didier means to us as a French people. As a manager, as a player, he wrote an amazing story,” the France captain said. “There’s one game left for him, so we’re going to try to play the best game for him because he deserves it, and also the fans deserve to have a win and finish third in this World Cup.”

France will play for third place against the loser of the Argentina-England semifinal.

Kylian Mbappé said France let Spain dictate the game from the start.

“It’s a team who loves to have control of the game, control of the ball. That’s what we let them do,” the France captain said. “We let the midfield too much time to play, and at the end of the day they had quality to play. It’s difficult when you don’t change the play of Spain. And the penalty, I think, helped also.”

“We weren’t at the level to go to the final,” he said.

Kylian Mbappé of France missed out on a chance to put some distance between him and Argentina’s Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot.

Mbappé’s eight goals and three assists would earn him his second consecutive Golden Boot if the World Cup were to end today. Messi also has eight goals, but the France striker holds the tiebreaker with the edge in assists.

Messi has a chance to surpass Mbappé with a goal against England on Wednesday. England also has two potential winners in Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, who each have six goals and an assist.

Erling Haaland scored seven goals but was eliminated from the race with Norway’s loss to England.

France midfielder Rayan Cherki said Les Bleus misfired in every way during their loss to Spain.

Cherki came on in the second half as France tried to rally.

“In so many ways, France was missing everything today,” Cherki said through an interpreter.

He also predicted France will be back in title contention in 2030.

“We’ll be back in four years and we won’t make the same mistakes,” Cherki said.

Spain captain Rodri said the team’s focus never wavered against France.

“They can punish you at every single moment, so I think the focus in every single minute was key in this game. Unbelievable effort by everyone,” Rodri said after Spain’s 2-0 victory.

La Roja are heading to their second World Cup final.

“We’ve only been twice in our history. So difficult to get to this moment, but we want more. We want to win this World Cup,” Rodri said.

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said his team earned the “privilege” of playing for the World Cup title.

“It’s a privilege reserved for the chosen few, and one has to process it all. When we started out nearly four years ago with a vision, we stayed true to it, and that is what has brought us here,” de la Fuente said after Spain beat France 2-0.

“We were up against one of the best national teams in the world, but today, they were facing the best team in the world.”

Spain is unbeaten in its last 37 matches, matching a European record.

La Roja extended their streak with a 2-0 win over France in the World Cup semifinals. Spain has 28 wins and nine draws since March 2024.

Italy was unbeaten in 37 matches between October 2018 and September 2021.

Porro in the 58th minute to make it 2-0 and was a key part of the Spain defense that shut down France.

“I’m so happy because of the team’s attitude from beginning to end. I think that we did such an amazing game. We gave it our all in order just to go through to the final,” Porro said through an interpreter.

“We knew that we’re a very tough team, we’re doing things really well. This is our team, it’s not about me.”

Didier Deschamps’ long run as France’s coach will end without a second World Cup title.

Deschamps has said he plans to step down after this tournament. With France’s 2-0 loss to Spain in the semifinals, his last game will be a third-place match against the loser of Wednesday’s semifinal between Argentina and England.

Deschamps began coaching France in 2012 and led Les Bleus to the World Cup title in 2018 and back to the final in 2022. He also won the World Cup as a player with France in 1998.

Deschamps missed a game in this tournament to attend his mother’s funeral.

After the final whistle, Deschamps gave star striker Kylian Mbappé a quick hug on the sideline.

Spain now has a chance to win its second World Cup title.

Mikel Oyarzabal scored on a penalty kick in the 22 minute and Pedro Porro scored in the 58th minute in a 2-0 victory over France in a matchup of tournament favorites.

Spain advances to Sunday’s final against either Argentina or England. The second semifinal is Wednesday in Atlanta.

Spain made its only appearance in the final in 2010, when it beat the Netherlands in South Africa for its only World Cup championship.

Spain’s suffocating defense and ball control stifled France’s attack led by Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé. France’s normally fluid offense struggled against Spain’s pressure and speed.

Spain has surrendered just one goal in the World Cup.

France had not trailed in the World Cup until Tuesday.

Either England or Argentina will meet Spain in Sunday’s final in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Kylian Mbappé was shown a yellow card for a collision with Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón in the 86h minute as the Spanish player tried to hold the ball and take more time off the clock.

Midfielder Marcos Llorente replaced Porro in the 84th minute as Spain tries to defend its 2-0 lead.

England great David Beckham and his wife, fashion designer and singer Victoria Beckham, are among those at the Spain-France semifinal.

Other celebrities at the match at AT&T Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, include actor Timothée Chalamet. He showed off his jacket representing France when his image flashed on the giant screen.

Spain has subbed out midfielder Dani Olmo for Mikel Moren, and midfielder Pedri for Fabian Ruiz.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is attending his first World Cup match at his stadium.

The billionaire businessman got a loud reaction from the crowd — including boos — when his image flashed on the giant screen at AT&T Stadium during second half of the semifinal between Spain and France. His wife, Gene, was sitting next to him.

The $1.2 billion stadium is hosting nine matches during the World Cup — the most of any venue.

France coach Didier Deschamps is looking for something to change this game. He has subbed out playmaking midfielder Michael Olise for Ryan Cherki and taken out defender Lucas Digne for Theo Hernandez.

Spain has replaced goal scorer Mikel Oyarzabal with Ferran Torres.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino, in his quest to attend as many matches as possible at this World Cup, has favored a dark suit with a small spot of color: a gold “FIFA” emblazoned on his lapel. At this semifinal match near Dallas, he accessorized his usual uniform with a blinged-out, silver belt buckle embossed with a depiction of the state of Texas in gold.

Spain extended its lead to 2-0 on a goal by Pedro Porro in the 58th minute.

Spain also continues to frustrate France’s high-powered attack with a stifling defense that has left little or no room for star striker Kylian Mbappé to attack.

Pedro Porro scored for Spain after pouncing on a loose ball in the penalty area on a play that started with a pass from him to Dani Olmo.

A challenge from a French defender saw the ball bounce loose and Porro was quickest to it. That left him in a one-on-one with France goalkeeper Mike Maignan for a shot to the near post.

France had no shots on goal through the first 64 minutes.

Spanish actor Javier Bardem is among the fans at the France-Spain World Cup semifinal.

Olympic gold medalist sprinter Usain Bolt is also in attendance at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones’ helicopter was seen arriving at the stadium before the match.

Pedro Porro scores in the 58th minute.

Spain is trying to hold on to a 1-0 lead from Mikel Oyarzabal’s penalty kick in the 22nd minute.

France benched defender Adrian Rabiot for second half and replaced him with Manu Kone. Rabiot was shown a yellow card for a hard challenge in the ninth minute. A second yellow card would mean an automatic ejection and France would have to play the rest of the match with 10 players.

The winner advances to Sunday’s final against either Argentina or England.

Fans of European soccer were treated to country music during halftime of the France-Spain World Cup semifinal.

Zac Brown Band opened its set with its hit “Chicken Fried.”

The band was set up among fans on the east end of AT&T Stadium, home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys.

Mikel Oyarzabal has matched the Spanish record for goals in a World Cup with five.

David Villa scored five goals in the 2010 World Cup to lead Spain to its lone title. And Emilio Butragueño scored five times in the 1986 World Cup, in which Spain was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Belgium.

Oyarzabal scored twice in Spain’s group stage win over Saudi Arabia. He had two more goals in La Roja’s round of 32 win over Austria before converting a penalty in Tuesday’s semifinal against France.

Mikel Oyarzabal scored on a penalty kick in the 22 minute. It came after France’s Lucas Digne fouled Spain’s Yamine Lamal inside the penalty box.

France trails for the first time in the World Cup. Oyarzabal beat France goalkeeper Mike Maignan for his fifth goal of the tournament.

Spain has frustrated France and star striker Kylian Mbappé with its typical ball-control style, which has limited French possession.

Spain’s well-organized defense also has shut down the quick French counterattacks by closing off passes intended for Mbappé. And it was 19-year-old Yamal’s quick effort to challenge for the ball that drew the penalty.

The game has been physical. France defender Adrian Rabiot was shown a yellow card in the ninth minute. Spain’s Marc Cucurella got a yellow in the 31st. France also lost starting center back William Saliba to an injury.

The center back walked off the pitch with team trainers in the 30th minute. He was replaced by Maxence Lacroix.

Mikel Oyarzabal drilled the penalty kick after France defender Lucas Digne was called for a foul for hacking Spain’s Lamine Yamal in the penalty box.

The goal was Oyarzabal’s fifth of the World Cup.

Digne was trying to collect the ball after an awkward bounce. Yamal raced in from behind and challenged the play, and was kicked as Digne tried to clear it away.

Spain scored just before the first-half hydration break. It’s the first time France has trailed at this World Cup.

Mikel Oyarzabal scores on a penalty kick in the 22nd minute.

France defender Adrian Rabiot was issued a yellow card in the eighth minute for a foul just outside the penalty area. He will now have to avoid getting another, which would be an automatic ejection.

Before the France-Spain semifinal began Tuesday, fans in Texas observed a moment of silence to mark the 10th anniversary of a terrorist attack in Nice, France.

The names of the victims were displayed on screens, written in the shape of a heart.

Eight-six people were killed when a Tunisian-born French resident drove a rented truck along a packed seaside promenade in the French Riviera resort on the Bastille Day holiday in 2016.

Crowds packed a popular fan venue in Paris called Ground Control to watch the match.

Some got there hours before kickoff to secure a seat. Many were fanning themselves or using whatever they could find to cool off as France sizzles through a heat wave.

The mood was excited, and a little tense. Ground Control is one of hundreds of fan zones set up around France for the World Cup.

The winner of this matchup between European heavyweights advances to the July 19 final against the winner of Wednesday’s semifinal between defending champion Argentina and England.

France won the World Cup in 1998 and 2018. Spain won it in 2010.

The match started after a moment of silence to mark the 10-year anniversary of a terror attack in Nice, France.

Gabby Wynd, who lives in suburban Dallas, got hooked on the World Cup this summer. She watched games with fans while traveling in Europe.

“I’m on this very random side quest this summer to go to as many places as I can to watch World Cup games,” Wynd said.

Tuesday’s France-Spain semifinal at the home of the Dallas Cowboys is the first game she’ll be seeing in person. But it’s the eighth place she has watched a match.

Wynd and her son were cheering for France on Tuesday. But she said the result of the game wasn’t the most important thing to her.

“What I’m enjoying more are the fans,” she said.

Charlotte and Sam Sabri of Paris attended World Cup matches in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and Foxborough, Massachusetts, on a trip earlier this summer. They decided to return to the U.S. to see France in the semifinals.

“I think whoever will win this game will win the world Cup,” said Sam Sabri, who wore a tricolor wig along with a France jersey.

“Hopefully France,” his wife added.

They arrived in Dallas on Monday and they plan to visit other Texas cities after the game.

France and Spain have deep history with some recent fireworks.

France won the World Cup in 1998 and 2018 and was a finalist in 2006 and 2022. Les Bleus are trying to become just the third team, along with Brazil and Germany, to reach three consecutive finals.

Spain won the World Cup in 2010 in its only trip to the final.

Kylian Mbappé and France have begun their warmups before their World Cup semifinal match.

After leading the team onto the pitch about 50 minutes before kickoff, Mbappé stopped and raised his hands above his head, waving to and applauding the fans inside AT&T Stadium.

France is trying to get to its third straight World Cup final. Les Bleus won the championship in 2018, then lost the 2022 final to Argentina, which plays England in the other semifinal game Wednesday in Atlanta.

Mbappé has eight goals, tied with Argentina’s Lionel Messi for the most in this tournament. Mbappé’s 20 goals in his 20 World Cup games are one behind the career record held by Messi.

Spain’s Lamine Yamal is a creative playmaker who demands attention every time he gets the ball. At just 19, he can dazzle with footwork, a burst of speed and a pinpoint pass. And he’s scored big goals for club and country.

But not many in this World Cup. Yamal has just one goal so far and a breakout performance against France would be perfect timing for La Roja.

Mikel Oyarzabal leads Spain’s ball-control offense with four goals.

Kylian Mbappé is chasing the Golden Boot as the World Cup’s top scorer, but France is loaded with players who would star for anyone.

Ousmane Dembélé has five goals, including a hat trick in a group stage win over Norway. And the engineer behind France’s free-flowing attack is midfielder Michael Olise, who has five assists.

That’s a big challenge for Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón, who has allowed just one goal so far.

Lamine Yamal has only one goal and no assists while putting 10 shots on target in his first World Cup, but his playmaking and activity down the right side of Spain’s attack have been noticeable in almost every match. He started the sequence that led to Spain’s first goal against Belgium in a two-man game with Pedro Porro, eventually leading to Fabián Ruiz’s rebound goal off Dani Olmo’s shot.

Yamal said his modest statistics don’t bother him, noting that he also scored only one goal (with four assists) while Spain won the European Championship two years ago.