Spain 2-0 France: INTO THE WORLD CUP FINAL! Heading to New York, heading for a second star

Let me catch my breath, my hands are still shaking as I write this. SPAIN IS IN THE WORLD CUP FINAL. We beat France 2-0 in Dallas, with authority, with craft and with that calm only teams who know exactly what they are possess. Sixteen years after that night in Johannesburg, after that Iniesta goal we all remember exactly where we were watching and who we were with… La Roja returns to a final. And on Sunday, in New York, we're going for the second star. 🇪🇸⭐⭐

The match. It started tactical, tense, the kind you can taste in the air. And then he showed up, the usual suspect: Lamine Yamal ran at them, Digne couldn't handle him and brought him down in the box. Crystal clear penalty, and Oyarzabal —the man from the Euro final— buried it with ice-cold composure like nothing you've ever seen (22'). France tried with more pride than football, Mbappé hobbling along on that ankle, but opposite them was Rodri with the armband, conducting the orchestra like the chosen one. What an absolutely brilliant footballer, honestly.

And in the 57th, the goal I celebrated twice over. One-two with Dani Olmo, arriving from deep and finishing like a proper striker: PEDRO PORRO GOAL. The 2-0. Those of you who follow me know Pedro's my mate, that I already cried with his first Spain goal at the SoFi… and now the lad goes and scores in a World Cup semifinal. I couldn't be prouder, mate. From Extremadura to the world, grafting harder than anyone. WHAT A LAD, PEDRO. 🔴⚪

Like 2010, but our way. Tell me that doesn't smell the same: a team that makes no fuss, defends like a family and treats the ball like scripture. That Spain kept just 2 goals out in the entire tournament; this one's conceded ONE in seven games. That one had Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets; this one has Rodri, Pedri and Fabián. That one had a kid called Pedro coming on to tear matches apart; this one has Lamine, who at 18 years old plays like the World Cup is his school playground. And in goal, a serious, silent Basque, like San Iker back then: Unai Simón and his records. History doesn't repeat itself, but it rhymes. And this rhyme, I absolutely love it.

The stat to boast about down the pub. Spain is the first team through to the final and arrives unbeaten: seven wins from seven, 17 goals for and ONE against. They've knocked out Portugal, Belgium and France — three European heavyweights, one after another. If this isn't the best Spain since 2010, then it's even better. I'll leave that there.

What's coming: NEW YORK. The final is Sunday 19th July at 21:00 (Spanish time) at the MetLife Stadium, against the winner of England-Argentina tonight. Messi chasing his dream farewell or England after their second? Don't mind either way, bring them both on if you like. This Spain isn't scared of anyone… and an entire generation of lads who never saw South Africa are 90 minutes away from having THEIR final, the one they'll be telling people about in 16 years' time.

📊 Match stats: lineups, statistics and scoreline · 🏆 THE FINAL details · 📰 How we got here: the 2-1 over Belgium · 🇪🇸 Spain's road to glory

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