In Atlanta on Tuesday, Spain's football team quietly reminded the world of something beautiful: that a group playing as one can beat a collection of stars. Spain defeated France 2-0 in the World Cup semi-final, securing their place in just their second final in history — and the manner of the victory left experts stunned.
France had arrived as overwhelming favorites. Their squad featured Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, and Michael Olise — attackers so dangerous they seemed almost unfair. But Spain, coached by Luis de la Fuente, had been building something special in plain sight. They'd gone unbeaten in 37 matches, kept clean sheets in six of their seven World Cup games, and arrived at this moment having already won the Nations League in 2023 and the European Championship last summer.
Still, many had overlooked them. When de la Fuente was appointed head coach in December 2022, some fans online jokingly asked: "Luis de la Who?" He had spent years coaching Spain's youth teams — under-19s, under-21s, under-23s — and was seen as a quiet, behind-the-scenes hire. Two years later, he has guided Spain to a World Cup final.
The match itself was decided by midfielder control. Spain's trio of Fabian Ruiz, Rodri, and Dani Olmo dominated France's two-man midfield, creating constant advantages. Olmo drifted deep to pull defenders out of position, then found teammates with ease. When Spain attacked, they found space that seemed impossible to find.
Mikel Oyarzabal converted a penalty to make it 1-0. Pedro Porro added a brilliant second — Spain's only other shot on target in the entire match. France managed just three attempts on target all night. Their famous attackers were silenced. "Brilliant individuals not playing as a team," said former Premier League champion Roy Keane. "Spain have been absolutely brilliant — an absolute joy to watch."
The journey to this final wasn't smooth. Spain opened their World Cup with a frustrating 0-0 draw against Cape Verde, a tournament debutant. They needed a 91st-minute goal to beat Portugal and an 88th-minute goal to overcome Belgium. But they seem to have peaked at exactly the right moment.
Former France defender Gael Clichy, who knows both sides well, put it simply: "The best team won. All the phases were controlled by Spain." French World Cup winner Patrick Vieira agreed Spain had dominated "every single aspect."
Spain will face either Argentina or England in Sunday's final at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Whatever happens, they have already shown something worth celebrating: that when a team plays together with purpose, they can accomplish something extraordinary. "We've recaptured the spirit of 2010," de la Fuente said after the match. "This is a process and it was all planned for us to reach this moment."