Oyarzabal and Porro guide Spain into the final while France’s unbeaten campaign ends in Deschamps’ farewell tournament.
Spain booked their place in the tournament final with a disciplined 2-0 victory over France, bringing an end to Didier Deschamps’ long and successful tenure as manager of Les Bleus. The defeat marked the end of France’s unbeaten run and dashed hopes of a perfect farewell for the veteran coach.
France entered the semifinal as one of the strongest contenders for the title. Having conceded only two goals in six matches, the team appeared well-positioned to challenge for the championship. Much of the spotlight was also on captain Kylian Mbappe, who was expected to lead France to glory and further strengthen his status among football’s elite players.
However, Spain produced a composed and collective performance that exposed weaknesses France had managed to hide throughout the competition. Mbappe struggled to make a decisive impact, while fellow attacking stars Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise and Bradley Barcola were unable to influence the match consistently.
Despite France registering more shots on target, Spain proved clinical in front of goal. Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring from the penalty spot after Lamine Yamal was brought down by Lucas Digne inside the box. Pedro Porro then doubled Spain’s advantage after combining effectively with Dani Olmo in a well-worked attacking move.
Spain’s success once again highlighted the strength of its collective approach. While teenage sensation Lamine Yamal has attracted significant attention during the tournament, the team’s progress has been built on unity rather than reliance on individual brilliance.
Former Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic praised Spain’s team-oriented style, noting that the squad’s strength lies in its collective performance rather than a single star player.
Oyarzabal continued his impressive tournament with another influential display. The Real Sociedad forward has now scored five goals and provided one assist during the competition, taking his international tally to 30 goals in 60 appearances. Former France striker Thierry Henry described him as a reliable finisher whose understanding of goal-scoring remains one of his greatest strengths.
Spain will now prepare for Sunday’s final in New Jersey, while France travel to Miami for the third-place playoff. The match will also serve as Deschamps’ final appearance in charge, ending a remarkable 14-year spell that included France’s 2018 World Cup triumph and a lasting legacy in national team history.