Spain Outclass France in World Cup Semifinal: Yamal Haunts Mbappe Again

Spain delivered a masterclass against France in the first semifinal of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, confirming their status as tournament favorites. Luis de la Fuente’s side never let the French get into the game, exposing a squad that had faced no real top-tier opposition before this match. France’s press was ineffective from the start — Spain calmly played through it and advanced the ball with ease. Kylian Mbappe and company looked hopeless after conceding, and even Belgium had made Spain more uncomfortable earlier in the tournament. The French attack lacked any real threat. Lamine Yamal once again got the better of Mbappe. The young winger has now won all six knockout matches against teams featuring Mbappe, including this semifinal. The 17-year-old won the penalty that proved decisive. During the match, an attempted burglary at Yamal’s home was reported — but it didn’t distract him. Unai Simon delivered the final blow to Mbappe in stoppage time. The goalkeeper deliberately delayed picking up the ball, forcing the French star into a clumsy tackle. Simon himself put on a show after Theo Hernandez’s cross, though it was more of a comedy act. Spain’s success is built on a system. Mikel Oyarzabal, who has spent his entire career at Real Sociedad, now has 30 goals in 60 Spain appearances — only David Silva, Alvaro Morata, Fernando Torres, Raul, and David Villa have more. Simon, another product of Athletic Bilbao, has remained the starter through multiple coaching changes, while keepers from Europe’s elite clubs sat on the bench. France now heads to the third-place match. Paris can breathe a sigh of relief — no major riots broke out after the loss. But the way France finished the game was shameful: players stood around, and Jules Kounde didn’t even look at Mike Maignan when the keeper needed to distribute the ball.