C T Online Desk: Spain stunned tournament favourites France 2-0 to reach the World Cup final on Tuesday, producing a tactical masterpiece to shatter Les Bleus’ dreams of winning the title for the third time.
A first-half penalty from Mikel Oyarzabal and a 58th-minute Pedro Porro goal sealed an utterly clinical victory for the European champions at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Spain, World Cup winners in 2010, will now face either Argentina or England in Sunday’s final in New Jersey.
“Today we faced one of the best national teams in the world, but in front of them they had the best team in the world,” delighted Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said afterwards. “That is different.”
France had entered the showdown as the overwhelming favourites for the tournament after a dazzling run to the semi-finals that had seen them pile up 16 goals in six matches.
But France’s vaunted front four of captain Kylian Mbappe, Ballon D’Or winner Ousmane Dembele, Bradley Barcola and Michael Olise were snuffed out by a combination of Spanish poise and power.
France coach Didier Deschamps admitted his team had been outplayed.
