Spain’s World Cup player ratings vs France

Spain beat France in the World Cup semi-final in a game that many said would be a tense and tight affair. In the end, Spain’s quality shone though and they put on a stunning performance, limiting Les Bleus to the absolute minimum, keeping Mbappé, Olise, and Dembélé silent for 90 minutes.

Unai Simón: Highly involved in Spain’s build-up play, acting as a sweeper throughout. France targeted him repeatedly, forcing a couple of heart-stopping dribbles and one awkward clearance, but he dealt with everything without major issues. Exceptionally alert in the libero role, he even had time on one occasion to head the ball clear before recovering to prevent a certain goal.

Pedro Porro (84′): Man of the Match from start to finish. He began with enormous personality and relentless energy. Mbappé drifted onto his flank repeatedly, but Porro never allowed him to take control. Around the 15-minute mark, with Mbappé racing clear on the counter, he timed a clever trip just well enough to snuff out what looked like a certain chance. He extinguished several other dangerous attacks, was imperious defensively and constantly drove Spain forward. He crowned his display with a superb one-two with Olmo before applying the killer finish for 2-0. Heroic.

Cubarsí: And speaking of personality, Cubarsí has it in abundance. He is only 19 but plays with the composure of a 29-year-old. Unfazed by France’s high press, he repeatedly carried the ball out of defence to break lines and relieve pressure. The best young player of the World Cup.

Laporte: Pure class, even if his performance was less eye-catching. Consistent throughout, dominant in the air, reliable on the ground and always alert to provide cover. He never overcommitted, reading perfectly when to step out, use his body or hold his position. A defensive masterclass.

Cucurella: Faced the difficult task of dealing with both Olise and Dembélé, who constantly swapped flanks. He contained them as well as anyone could, showing his usual aggression and determination in one-on-one duels. Going forward, he was less connected with Baena than usual but continued to surge down the flank. One of his crosses led to the penalty won by Lamine. An early yellow card forced him to be more cautious, yet he never lost his edge. A rock.

Rodri: Simply sublime. While both teams began at a frantic pace, Rodri was Spain’s source of calm. He constantly made himself available, escaped pressure in tight situations and ensured Spain retained possession. Dominant in the air and authoritative in midfield, he remains the team’s heartbeat.

Fabián (78′): De la Fuente’s continued faith in him paid off again. He was switched on from the opening whistle, producing a masterclass in shielding the ball and giving Spain an invaluable outlet in possession. He recovered countless balls, competed strongly in physical duels and judged perfectly when to drive through the lines or slow the tempo with short passes. An outstanding display.

Lamine: His influence extends far beyond goals. He worked tirelessly, pressing aggressively and harrying defenders. His intelligence and anticipation earned Spain’s penalty, stealing in ahead of Digne before being brought down. He remained a constant threat without forcing dribbles unnecessarily. A marginal offside denied him what would have been his second goal of the tournament. Not his flashiest performance, but still an excellent one.

Olmo (78′): Outstanding once again. Although deployed as the No. 10, he spent long spells drifting into pockets of space. His first touch and turns oozed quality, accelerating Spain’s attacks while always looking to play forward. His defensive contribution was equally impressive. The highlight came with the exquisite one-two that released Porro for Spain’s second goal. He continues to perform at an exceptional level.

Baena (84′): There were two versions of Baena. In attack he never quite found his usual sharpness or final touch. Defensively, however, he was tireless. His support for Cucurella was constant, disciplined and full of commitment.

Oyarzabal (74′): With half the France team surrounding the penalty area, protesting and trying to distract him, Mikel remained ice-cool. Ball on the spot, ball in the net. His muted celebration reflected the knowledge that the job was far from done. It was his fifth goal of the World Cup, drawing level with David Villa and Emilio Butragueño, while his 14th goal of the season takes him past Villa’s tally of 13. He also produced a couple of clever combinations around the edge of the box.

Substitutes:

Ferran (74′): Almost scored with a superb header moments after coming on.

Merino (78′): The best news was that he was able to preserve himself for another match.

Pedri (78′): Added composure in possession and helped maintain Spain’s pressing intensity in the closing stages.

Marcos Llorente (84′): Replaced the injured Pedro Porro.

Nico Williams (84′): Picked up valuable minutes and went close to scoring late on.

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