France’s attacking firepower was the focus of the build-up to their World Cup semi-final against Spain. If it wasn’t Kylian Mbappe who did the damage, it would surely be Ousmane Dembele. Or Michael Olise. Or Bradley Barcola. Or Desire Doue.
As it transpired, their threat was almost entirely negated. France threw Rayan Cherki into the mix too but were made to look toothless. How? “In front of them they had the best team in the world,” said Spain’s head coach Luis de la Fuente afterwards.
This so-called World Cup of superstars, in which Mbappe and Lionel Messi have scored eight goals each, and others, including Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior, have also delivered, may yet be won by the strongest collective.
It is hard to argue with De la Fuente’s description of his team. Having guided Spain to European Championship success two years ago, this was his 13th win in 14 major tournament games as head coach. It must rank as one of the most convincing.
Spain’s Pedro Porro scored Spain’s second goal after Mikel Oyarzabal’s penalty
France were torn through at one end and limited to chances worth only 0.30 expected goals at the other. “Spain dominated the game in every single aspect,” said Patrick Vieira, a World Cup-winner with France during his playing days, on ITV.
Spain circulated the ball with their usual composure, moving France around, opening gaps and then exploiting them. Their second goal, finished by Pedro Porro after a one-two with Dani Olmo, was just one of many examples of France being pulled apart and came from a passing move which began deep in their own half.
Spain have averaged 64 per cent possession at the tournament so far. They have made roughly 200 more passes in the final third than any other side. Their capacity to suffocate opponents is unrivalled. But they do it without the ball as well as with it.
Possession was actually roughly even against France. But there was a mismatch in how the two sides used it and an even bigger difference in their off-the-ball efforts. While France defended as a group of individuals, Spain did so as a choreographed unit.
“They won the game because of out of possession today,” said Roy Keane on ITV. “We all love watching brilliant teams who are a joy to watch, but you’ve got to remind yourself of what they do out of possession. They worked in packs. There was intensity and purpose to their play. It was almost the opposite to the French.”
“Tactically they were all over the French team,” added Vieira. “When you look at the forward players of Spain, they worked really hard to not let the French players get on the ball.”
France struggled to get the ball into shooting positions and, when they did, they were met by defenders, such as Marc Cucurella, ready to put their bodies on the line. The result was that Mbappe, Dembele, Olise and the rest were left frustrated.
Kylian Mbappe shows the strain as France lose to Spain
Spain do of course have a superstar of their own. Lamine Yamal has grown into the tournament following his return from a hamstring injury. He won the penalty off Lucas Digne for Spain’s opener and tormented the France left-back throughout.
But the 19-year-old has only scored once in seven games so far. He has not caught fire in the same way as so many other high-profile individuals at the tournament. Spain, though, have not needed him to, such is their collective power.
It is difficult to imagine that France would have got this far had Mbappe only scored once. The same can be said of Argentina and Messi, and indeed of England and Kane, even if, in Bellingham, he has a team-mate now sharing the scoring burden.
“They play more in moments,” as Gary Neville put it of the three semi-finalists other than Spain before the game.
All of which is not to say Spain have not benefitted from invaluable individual contributions.
Lamine Yamal celebrates with Pedro Porro against France
Rodri is proving beyond any doubt at the tournament that he remains the world’s best in his position. He won 11 of his 15 duels against France. But the technical and tactical qualities that define his game are apparent among their other midfielders too.
Consider how Martin Zubimendi, who has not featured at all at the tournament, stepped in for him at half-time of the European Championship final win against England two years ago. It is no stretch to say Pedri could fulfil a similar role if needed this time.
Up front, Mikel Oyarzabal has scored five goals but his deputy Ferran Torres has a similarly strong understanding of the role and then there is Mikel Merino, whose knack for impacting games from the bench typifies the collective buy-in of the squad.
It all adds up to make Spain the strongest team, and, quite possibly, the most likely winners of the so-called World Cup of superstars.
