Former ATP world number one Carlos Alcaraz hailed Spain’s 2-0 win over France on Tuesday (July 14) at Dallas Stadium, Arlington, to reach the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.
La Roja were brilliant from the off, controlling the game and scoring with both their shots on target to eliminate Didier Deschamps’ side, who were touted by many to go all the way this summer.
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Following a foul by Lucas Digne on Lamine Yamal, Mikel Oyarzabal stepped up from the spot to score his fifth goal of the tournamnet, giving La Roja the lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
Luis de la Fuente’s side doubled their lead 10 minutes into the second period through Pedro Porro, who was played through by Dani Olmo after a one-on-one. Lamine Yamal nearly added a third to end the game as a contest, but he was slightly offside, so the goal was ruled out.
Nevertheless, La Roja held on for a comfortable win, handing Les Bleus a first two-goal defeat at the FIFA World Cup in 16 years since losing 2-0 to Mexico, impressing Alcaraz, who tweeted:
“Viva España!!! 🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸.”
La Roja now await the winner of the Argentna-England semi-final on Wednesday (July 15) in Atlanta in the title match four days later at New York New Jersey Stadium, East Rutherford.
“Spain mauled them in the middle” – Former France defender after 2026 FIFA World Cup defeat
Former France defender Gael Clicht lamented the lack of service to striker Kylian Mbappe in the semi-final on Tuesday against an excellent Spain side that reached their second FIFA World Cup final.
Les Bleus did indeed lose the battle in the middle of the park, failing to control the game as they eventually found a two-goal deficit too steep to surmount in just over half an hour.
“You have to get the ball to them [France’s front four],” Clichy said on BBC radio. “When you chuck into the mix that Ousmane Dembele had a terrible, terrible game, Michael Olise who we had been talking up, had a really poor game. Mbappe didn’t get any great service. Aurelien Tchouameni, that was a strange pick over Manu Kone.
“Spain mauled them in the middle, and that was the biggest issue. They stopped the ball going into the French forwards. It is about the collective and the team effort and that is why Spain came out on top. They are the best team in this tournament.”
While France’s bid to reach a third straight FIFA World Cup final ended, La Roja are looking to win their second title, first in 16 yaers.
Edited by Bhargav