In anticipation for their opponent in the final to be decided today, here’s all the details on the victor of yesterday’s semifinal against a strong France team
In the biggest World Cup ever, the first team to secure a place in the final was Spain. A 2-0 victory against a menacing France squad wasn’t on everyone’s bingo cards, but at least one person with full belief from the jump was head coach Luis de la Fuente.
“Our message was that today we were facing perhaps one of the best national teams in the world. But they found themselves up against the best team in the world,” de la Fuente said in a post-game press conference.
Their coach says they’re unmatched in the world. Their young star, Lamine Yamal, made headlines for taunting the French on social media and backing up the talk on the pitch. But breaking down how they got here makes it seem less and less surprising.
The semifinal bout in Dallas went the way of the Spaniards, but it’s not the first to favor them. In three straight matchups, Spain has eliminated France from three separate competitions. On their way to becoming European champions in 2024 and reaching the final of the UEFA Nations League in 2025, de la Fuente’s squad silenced a team that this World Cup was being called one of the best attacking sides of all time — and each time in the semifinals.
To that record-breaking attack, second among all nations in goalscoring this tournament, Spain managed to hold them to zero attempts on goal for 80 minutes. A stalwart Spanish defense bejeweled with veterans and rising stars has only conceded one goal through the entire World Cup. 19-year-old center back Pau Cubarsí spoke to the value of their defense after the semifinal.
“I think one of the most important things in football is keeping a clean sheet. It helps the team tremendously,” Cubarsí said. “There was some talk that our defense and our goalkeeper weren’t performing well, but I think we’ve silenced a lot of people. We’ve only conceded one goal, and we’re in the World Cup final.”
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In reaching this year’s final, Spain has reached a World Cup podium only for the second time. The first was in 2010, during the first World Cup to be held in Africa. On that occasion, Spain beat the Netherlands in extra time and crowned themselves world champions for the first time in their history. That was also the last time a nation became a first-time winner, which had previously happened in 1998.
The current Spain squad is powered by a European record-equalling 37-game unbeaten run, but its success is reminiscent of another golden era.
In 2010, Spain achieved the pinnacle of international soccer while still holding the European crown, which they have the chance of doing once again. To do so, however, they’ll either face an England squad hungry for glory since they last won the World Cup 60 years ago or the reigning World and back-to-back South American champions Argentina.
From the perspective of de la Fuente, both his own matchup against France and the Argentina-England game today could’ve easily been anticipated World Cup finals. He maintains, however, that he backs his squad to win it all come Sunday no matter who they face.
“It is no coincidence we find ourselves here,” de la Fuente said. “Right now we’re not in a position for preferences. It’s going to be a very competitive match between two great teams but we welcome both with open arms.”