France v Spain · OurXI

★ The storyline

Spain are in a World Cup final

Say it out loud: Spain are in a World Cup final. They saw off France 2–0 in the semi-finals, and now there's one match between this family and the whole thing. Clear the calendar.

ComebackDeveloping

Spain march on through the semi-finals

The run is real. Spain are into a World Cup final, and a family that has followed them all summer is starting to believe. One more. Then we talk about it for the rest of our lives.

WildcardDeveloping

France bow out

And there it ends. France fall to Spain, and a summer of following them is over. It stings now — but what a ride it was, and there's no shame in going out swinging.

WildcardDeveloping

France bow out

And there it ends. France fall to Spain 2–0 in the semi-finals, and a summer of following them is over. It stings now — but what a ride it was, and there's no shame in going out swinging.

TalismanDeveloping

Spain keep it tidy and take it

Spain 2, France 0. A clean sheet and a comfortable win in the semi-finals — no fuss, no scare, exactly the sort of statement that puts a marker down for the rest of the field.

Golden BootDeveloping

Spain Reaches First Final Since 2010, Beats France in Arlington Semifinal

Spain outclassed France in a World Cup semifinal showdown in Texas, with a composed 2-0 victory sending them through to their first final since their 2010 triumph. Mikel Oyarzabal's early penalty, won by teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, set the tone, and Pedro Porro sealed it with a second-half goal. A commanding display that answers whether this Spanish side can recapture old magic.

Mikel OyarzabalLamine YamalPedro PorroKylian Mbappe

Source: AP News

Why it matters

Ours are out — France in a semi-final. Win or go home.

Who to watch

★ Ours · Talisman

Kylian Mbappé

France

The gravity around which France's attack orbits — the man the whole tournament will be watching.

★ Emerging star

Lamine Yamal

Spain

The teenage spark lighting up the attack and the one everyone will be watching.

Developing

Spain are through to the last 32

Spain are into the last 32. Job done in the group, and now the tournament really begins — one-and-done from here, every match a final.

Developing

France are through to the last 32

France are into the last 32. Job done in the group, and now the tournament really begins — one-and-done from here, every match a final.

Developing

Spain are world champions

Read it again slowly: Spain have won the World Cup. They beat Argentina 1–0 in the final, and everything this family shouted at a screen all summer just turned into the story you'll be telling for the rest of your lives. Champions of the world.

Developing

Spain win it in extra time

All square after ninety, and still nobody blinked — until Spain struck in the 106th minute against Argentina in the final. Extra time does strange things to legs and nerves; theirs held. Heartbreak one end, bedlam the other.