You can have all the attacking firepower in the world, but if you can't get the ball, you're just standing around watching a masterclass. That's exactly what happened in Arlington as Spain methodically disassembled France 2-0 to reach the World Cup final.
The pre-match build-up focused entirely on how Didier Deschamps' lethal front line would punish the Spanish defense. Instead, Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, and Michael Olise spent 90 minutes looking like strangers lost in the Dallas suburbs. France failed to register a single shot on target. Read that again. Zero.
Let's get into the player ratings to see who rose to the occasion and who completely collapsed under the pressure.
Spain Suffocated the French Attack
Luis de la Fuente set up his team to control, squeeze, and frustrate. It worked perfectly. Spain didn't just win; they dictated every single blade of grass.
Unai Simón — 7/10
He didn't have to make any highlight-reel saves because France couldn't hit the target. But his sweeping was top-notch. He raced off his line in the first half to deny Mbappé a clean run on goal, showing great anticipation.
Pedro Porro — 9/10 (Player of the Match)
Absolutely brilliant. People worried about how he'd handle Bradley Barcola, but after a shaky opening ten minutes, Porro owned the right flank. His goal in the 58th minute was pure class—timing a run to meet Dani Olmo's first-time pass and clipping it home like a seasoned striker.
Pau Cubarsí — 8/10
He's nineteen years old, but he plays like he has a decade of top-flight experience. Cubarsí stayed glued to Mbappé all night. He didn't dive in, didn't panic, and blocked everything that came near him.
Aymeric Laporte — 7.5/10
The perfect foil for Cubarsí. Laporte marshaled the backline with veteran poise, sweeping up long balls and keeping the defensive structure incredibly tight.
Marc Cucurella — 8/10
Dembélé is one of the most frustrating wingers to defend, but Cucurella completely took him out of the equation. He was aggressive, won his duels, and forced Dembélé backward constantly.
Rodri — 8.5/10
The best midfielder on the planet did what he always does. He sat deep, broke up French transition play, and ensured Spain never lost their rhythm. It was a clinic on how to control a World Cup semifinal.
Fabián Ruiz — 8/10
Matched Rodri's intensity in every dual. He won second balls, worked tirelessly to close down Olise, and kept the ball moving quickly.
Dani Olmo — 7.5/10
His assist for Porro’s goal was a piece of art—a cushioned, perfectly weighted pass that eliminated two defenders. He did a ton of work off the ball to disrupt France’s build-up.
Lamine Yamal — 7.5/10
He didn't need to score a wondergoal this time. His quick feet drew the clumsy foul from Lucas Digne that led to the opening penalty. He kept the French left side honest and pinned back.
Mikel Oyarzabal — 7/10
Stepped up to take the penalty with immense pressure on his shoulders and buried it past Mike Maignan. His link-up play was tidy, even if he didn't get many touches in the box.
Alex Baena — 6.5/10
A quiet game in possession, but his defensive tracking was invaluable to help Cucurella double up on Dembélé.
France Had No Plan B
Didier Deschamps has built his reputation on pragmatic tournament football, but when his side fell behind, they had absolutely no answers.
Mike Maignan — 5.5/10
You can't blame him for the penalty, and Porro's finish was precise. However, he looked slightly hesitant with his distribution under Spain's high press.
Jules Koundé — 5.5/10
Struggled to offer anything of note going forward. Defensively sound enough, but France desperately needed width and overlapping runs that he simply didn't provide.
Dayot Upamecano — 6/10
Made one crucial block to deny Fabián Ruiz in the first half. He tried to spark something with direct, long-range passing, but his targets were always surrounded.
William Saliba — 5.5/10
A tragic blow for Les Bleus. He tried to fight through a lingering back issue but his body gave up after 30 minutes, forcing an early substitution. France's defense lost all composure after he departed.
Lucas Digne — 4/10
A nightmare performance. His lazy challenge on Lamine Yamal gifted Spain their opening penalty and shifted the entire momentum of the game. He spent the rest of the match looking absolutely terrified.
Aurélien Tchouaméni — 6/10
Completed plenty of safe passes, but safe passing doesn't break down a block as organized as Spain's. He got overrun by Rodri and Ruiz in the engine room.
Adrien Rabiot — 4.5/10
Got booked just nine minutes in for a rash challenge, which completely neutralized his ability to defend aggressively. He was hooked at halftime.
Michael Olise — 5/10
Completely starved of service. He had to drop all the way back to the halfway line just to touch the ball, meaning he was never a threat where it mattered.
Ousmane Dembélé — 4/10
This was a shockingly poor showing from a player of his calibre. He didn't successfully complete a single dribble and was entirely pocketed by Marc Cucurella.
Bradley Barcola — 5/10
Showed brief flashes of energy early on against Porro but quickly faded into the background before being substituted.
Kylian Mbappé — 5/10
When your superstar doesn't take his first shot until the 67th minute, something is terribly wrong. Mbappé looked isolated, frustrated, and was easily managed by Cubarsí.
Why France's Midfield Transition Broke Down
The real issue wasn't the forwards; it was the chasm between the defense and attack. When Saliba went off, France lost their ability to build cleanly from the back. Upamecano was forced to bypass the midfield entirely with long balls, which was exactly what Laporte and Cubarsí wanted.
Rabiot's early yellow card meant he couldn't step up and press Rodri. This allowed Spain's midfield pivot to dictate the speed of the game. If you let Spain play at their own tempo, you've already lost the match.
For Deschamps, this tournament exit will trigger a massive inquest. Relying on moments of individual magic from Mbappé is no longer a viable tactical plan against elite, structured teams. Spain, on the other hand, look like a perfectly oiled machine heading into the final. They have the balance, the youth, and the tactical discipline to go all the way.
