by Craig Laycock
Original article:
France 0 - 2 Spain
Mikel Oyarzabal (22' pen), Pedro Porro (58')
Free-flowing France were stunted, stunned and eliminated in the semi-finals of the World Cup by deserving Spain, whose masterclass of patience, pressure and control paid off in cool and calm style to send them into the final, where they will face Argentina.
France’s approach to this tournament had instilled fear into most of their opposition, but upon facing their first “real” test, with no disrespect intended to their prior opponents, they came unstuck.
Spain’s tactic was, as always, to control the ball and pass their opponents into submission. While many felt this could come unstuck against the sharp edge of France’s attack, it didn’t.
The game started to turn early in the second half when Lucas Digne unintentionally clattered Lamine Yamal, who had a knack of being in the right place at the right time again. Digne didn’t see the flying forward, but it didn’t matter as he gave him a kick just inside the box. Unfortunate, yes, but Digne’s lack of awareness of what was happening around him was equally to blame.
Once Oyarzabal slammed home the penalty, it was advantage Spain and theirs to lose. Is there anything more daunting than being a goal down to a side that is so capable of completely suffocating a game with control?
Apparently not for France, as their star-studded side simply couldn’t get near the ball and were second-best throughout. Spain made it two with 58 minutes on the clock to trigger extreme nerves from the France fans. A Porro-Olmo combination saw Porro finish calmly at the near post.
France tried different things to switch through the gears but ultimately became extremely frustrated at a lack of progress, an inability to win the ball back and a lack of control when they did get it, with Spain superbly hunting in packs to win the ball back when out of possession.
It is hard to say anything other than this was a deserved win for Spain, but their slow, patient style doesn’t always win them fans, even if it does win begrudging respect from the world at large. Their slow, patient style will be tested against the bombastic fervour of Argentina, but you wouldn’t bet against Spain exerting their trademark control again in the final to take home a brutally efficient, somewhat boring World Cup win.
5 min read
Semi Final: Steely Spain smother France
Spain brush aside pre-tournament favourites France.
5 min read
France 0 - 2 Spain
Mikel Oyarzabal (22' pen), Pedro Porro (58')
Free-flowing France were stunted, stunned and eliminated in the semi-finals of the World Cup by deserving Spain, whose masterclass of patience, pressure and control paid off in cool and calm style to send them into the final, where they will face Argentina.
France’s approach to this tournament had instilled fear into most of their opposition, but upon facing their first “real” test, with no disrespect intended to their prior opponents, they came unstuck.
Spain’s tactic was, as always, to control the ball and pass their opponents into submission. While many felt this could come unstuck against the sharp edge of France’s attack, it didn’t.
The game started to turn early in the second half when Lucas Digne unintentionally clattered Lamine Yamal, who had a knack of being in the right place at the right time again. Digne didn’t see the flying forward, but it didn’t matter as he gave him a kick just inside the box. Unfortunate, yes, but Digne’s lack of awareness of what was happening around him was equally to blame.
Once Oyarzabal slammed home the penalty, it was advantage Spain and theirs to lose. Is there anything more daunting than being a goal down to a side that is so capable of completely suffocating a game with control?
Apparently not for France, as their star-studded side simply couldn’t get near the ball and were second-best throughout. Spain made it two with 58 minutes on the clock to trigger extreme nerves from the France fans. A Porro-Olmo combination saw Porro finish calmly at the near post.
France tried different things to switch through the gears but ultimately became extremely frustrated at a lack of progress, an inability to win the ball back and a lack of control when they did get it, with Spain superbly hunting in packs to win the ball back when out of possession.
It is hard to say anything other than this was a deserved win for Spain, but their slow, patient style doesn’t always win them fans, even if it does win begrudging respect from the world at large. Their slow, patient style will be tested against the bombastic fervour of Argentina, but you wouldn’t bet against Spain exerting their trademark control again in the final to take home a brutally efficient, somewhat boring World Cup win.
Semi Final: Steely Spain smother France
Spain brush aside pre-tournament favourites France.
Original article:
France 0 - 2 Spain
Mikel Oyarzabal (22' pen), Pedro Porro (58')
Free-flowing France were stunted, stunned and eliminated in the semi-finals of the World Cup by deserving Spain, whose masterclass of patience, pressure and control paid off in cool and calm style to send them into the final, where they will face Argentina.
France’s approach to this tournament had instilled fear into most of their opposition, but upon facing their first “real” test, with no disrespect intended to their prior opponents, they came unstuck.
Spain’s tactic was, as always, to control the ball and pass their opponents into submission. While many felt this could come unstuck against the sharp edge of France’s attack, it didn’t.
The game started to turn early in the second half when Lucas Digne unintentionally clattered Lamine Yamal, who had a knack of being in the right place at the right time again. Digne didn’t see the flying forward, but it didn’t matter as he gave him a kick just inside the box. Unfortunate, yes, but Digne’s lack of awareness of what was happening around him was equally to blame.
Once Oyarzabal slammed home the penalty, it was advantage Spain and theirs to lose. Is there anything more daunting than being a goal down to a side that is so capable of completely suffocating a game with control?
Apparently not for France, as their star-studded side simply couldn’t get near the ball and were second-best throughout. Spain made it two with 58 minutes on the clock to trigger extreme nerves from the France fans. A Porro-Olmo combination saw Porro finish calmly at the near post.
France tried different things to switch through the gears but ultimately became extremely frustrated at a lack of progress, an inability to win the ball back and a lack of control when they did get it, with Spain superbly hunting in packs to win the ball back when out of possession.
It is hard to say anything other than this was a deserved win for Spain, but their slow, patient style doesn’t always win them fans, even if it does win begrudging respect from the world at large. Their slow, patient style will be tested against the bombastic fervour of Argentina, but you wouldn’t bet against Spain exerting their trademark control again in the final to take home a brutally efficient, somewhat boring World Cup win.
5 min read
Semi Final: Steely Spain smother France
Spain brush aside pre-tournament favourites France.
France 0 - 2 Spain
Mikel Oyarzabal (22' pen), Pedro Porro (58')
Free-flowing France were stunted, stunned and eliminated in the semi-finals of the World Cup by deserving Spain, whose masterclass of patience, pressure and control paid off in cool and calm style to send them into the final, where they will face Argentina.
France’s approach to this tournament had instilled fear into most of their opposition, but upon facing their first “real” test, with no disrespect intended to their prior opponents, they came unstuck.
Spain’s tactic was, as always, to control the ball and pass their opponents into submission. While many felt this could come unstuck against the sharp edge of France’s attack, it didn’t.
The game started to turn early in the second half when Lucas Digne unintentionally clattered Lamine Yamal, who had a knack of being in the right place at the right time again. Digne didn’t see the flying forward, but it didn’t matter as he gave him a kick just inside the box. Unfortunate, yes, but Digne’s lack of awareness of what was happening around him was equally to blame.
Once Oyarzabal slammed home the penalty, it was advantage Spain and theirs to lose. Is there anything more daunting than being a goal down to a side that is so capable of completely suffocating a game with control?
Apparently not for France, as their star-studded side simply couldn’t get near the ball and were second-best throughout. Spain made it two with 58 minutes on the clock to trigger extreme nerves from the France fans. A Porro-Olmo combination saw Porro finish calmly at the near post.
France tried different things to switch through the gears but ultimately became extremely frustrated at a lack of progress, an inability to win the ball back and a lack of control when they did get it, with Spain superbly hunting in packs to win the ball back when out of possession.
It is hard to say anything other than this was a deserved win for Spain, but their slow, patient style doesn’t always win them fans, even if it does win begrudging respect from the world at large. Their slow, patient style will be tested against the bombastic fervour of Argentina, but you wouldn’t bet against Spain exerting their trademark control again in the final to take home a brutally efficient, somewhat boring World Cup win.
5 min read