Spain Downs France to Reach World Cup Final
Mbappé questions Deschamps' tactics as tournament favorites crash out
Spain booked its place in Sunday's World Cup final with a 2-0 victory over France in Tuesday's semifinal, ending the run of a French team many had installed as favorites to win the tournament.
The result continues an under-the-radar campaign for Spain, whose balanced lineup outplayed a France side built around individual stars. ESPN's player ratings singled out Porro and Rodri for the highest marks in a performance that was strong up and down the Spanish lineup.
France's collapse raised immediate questions about the team's approach. Kylian Mbappé was openly critical of the tactics deployed by manager Didier Deschamps after the 2-0 defeat, appearing to question the strategy that had carried France to the semifinal stage.
The loss means Deschamps' long tenure in charge of the French national team will end not with a title defense but with Saturday's third-place playoff, a match neither he nor his players wanted to be playing. It caps a storied run for the manager, who has led France through multiple major tournaments.
For Spain, the win sets up a final against the winner of Wednesday's semifinal between England and Argentina. Fans celebrated across Spain after the final whistle, according to Al Jazeera, as the team secured its place in Sunday's championship match at the end of a tournament in which it had largely avoided the spotlight despite its results.
— Compiled from reporting by ESPN, BBC Sport and Al Jazeera.