Sturdy Spain deux it again

Spain's defensive prowess and swagger were just too much for an attacking trio led by France great Kylian Mbappe, and more than enough to get the 2010 champion into another World Cup final.

The Spanish team managed a record sixth shutout in seven games so far, winning 2-0 in the semifinals Tuesday against one of the most prolific scorers in World Cup history in Arlington, Texas.

Teenager Lamine Yamal certainly was correct when he said France should fear Spain, despite it being FIFA's top-ranked team and led by Mbappe — its captain with 20 goals in his 20 World Cup games before the semifinals — Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise, who has a tournament-high five assists.

"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 coach Luis de la Fuente said.

Mikel Oyarzabal scored from the penalty spot after Yamal drew a foul, and Pedro Porro added another from a give-and-go with Dani Olmo in the 58th minute to send Spain to its second World Cup final.

A day after his 19th birthday, and not long after Porro had put Spain 2-0 up, Yamal was denied a goal on a close offside call, but it was his smart play against France's veteran defender Lucas Digne that gave Spain the early lead.

After a poor first touch with his head, Digne was trying to clear the ball when Yamal raced in from behind to challenge in the penalty area.

The ball hit the leaping teen before he was kicked by Digne, who, six days before his 33rd birthday, was playing in his 63rd game for France.

Oyarzabal's 22nd-minute conversion from the spot was his fifth goal at this year's World Cup, and his 30th goal in 60 international games for Spain.

It also marked the first time that either team had trailed in their seven games in this tournament.

Spain had two other real scoring chances in the first half.

There was a freekick from just beyond the box after Adrien Rabiot drew a yellow card for a foul on Olmo in the eighth minute. Alex Baena's kick went directly into the wall of French players.

When France goalkeeper Mike Maignan's attempted clearing pass in the 38th minute instead went straight to Baena, there were several quick passes before Fabian Ruiz's close-range shot was denied by defender Dayot Upamecano's nifty play.

For the second goal, Porro broke free and received a pass back from Olmo, who got the assist away just before getting knocked off his feet by Upamecano.

In its first six games in this tournament, France had allowed only two goals.

"We know that we're a very tough team, we're doing things really well," Porro said.

Spain midfielder Rodri added:"(It's been) so difficult to get to this moment, but we want more. We want to win this World Cup."

Spain will face either defending champion Argentina or England on Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey, across the river from New York City.

Argentina and England contest the other semifinal on Wednesday in Atlanta.

After trying to become only the third team to reach three consecutive World Cup finals, France instead will play in the third-place game against the loser of Wednesday's match on Saturday, in Miami Gardens, Florida.

"Spain was able to defend well," departing France coach Didier Deschamps said.

"They closed out all the spaces, and also we've made some technical mistakes. So, it is difficult to create problems when the technical level is below standard."

This win on soccer's biggest stage marked the third summer in a row that Spain has beaten France in a tournament semifinal match. Yamal scored in a 2-1 win in the 2024 European Championship semifinals just days before his 17th birthday, and La Roja won 5-4 in the Nations League last year.

Yamal had been quick to point out that France should be concerned after Spain's quarterfinal win over Belgium set up another semifinal matchup.

"It's a team who loves to have control of the game, control of the ball. That's what we let them do," said Mbappe, who got none of his three shots on target.

"It's difficult when you don't change the play of Spain."

Spain has outscored opponents 12-1 since its surprise scoreless draw against Cape Verde in their opening group match.

The lone goal allowed by keeper Unai Simon, which snapped his World Cup record of 650 scoreless minutes, was in the quarterfinal game against Belgium.

This World Cup run has extended Spain's unbeaten streak in regular time to 37 matches (28 wins and nine draws) since March 2024. It breaks the country's previous record of 35 in a row from 2007-09.

The loss broke France's record-matching streak of six consecutive World Cup wins, which the team also accomplished in the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.

Mbappe, who is tied with Argentina's Lionel Messi on eight goals, sits atop the rankings for the Golden Boot courtesy of his tiebreaking assist record. He still has the third-place match to add to his tally. As of Tuesday, Messi had two games left to add to his, and to also try and increase his one-goal lead over Mbappe as the World Cup's all-time leading scorer with 21.

"As the captain, I have to take all the responsibility and I have no problem with that," Mbappe said. "We wanted to go to the final. We didn't make it."