Editor's note: Follow France vs. Spain World Cup semifinal LIVE
DALLAS — "Jerry World" got the World Cup final, after all.
Back when FIFA was plotting out the schedule for this tournament, parceling out the104 games to 16 cities across the United States, Canada and Mexico, Dallas' AT&T Stadium was in the running to host the final. To the surprise of no one, FIFA chose New York. (New Jersey, officially, but you know what I mean.)
Because, New York. Global market, proximity to Europe, cachet.
As a consolation prize, Dallas got a semifinal, the one on Tuesday, July 14. As the tournament has played out, however, this semifinal has become the de facto final.
France and Spain. Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal. The reigning European champions and a France team that has made the final at the last two World Cups.
“We know this might be a spectacular game,” France coach Didier Deschamps said through a translator at a Monday, July 13 news conference. “(Both teams) know how to defend well. With the quality of the two teams offensively, I think it’s going to be a spectacular game.”
No one who has watched this tournament would dispute Les Bleus and La Roja have been the two best teams in the World Cup.
Spain has conceded one goal the entire tournament, an equalizer to Belgium in the quarterfinal. France hasn’t given up a goal since the group stage finale against Norway, a span of 336 minutes.
Mbappé leads the Golden Boot race with a combined 11 goals (eight) and assists (three). Yamal has "only" scored once, but he’s been such a menace with everything else he does that he’s been the player of the match twice.
Whoever wins, they’re probably going to win the whole darn thing, too.
“I've said this could be the final of the World Cup,” Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said. “But at the same time the Argentina-England match could be another World Cup final. We're the four best teams in the FIFA rankings, the four best teams in the world.”
Well, yes. But England and Argentina have looked beatable. Almost have been beaten.
Argentina is giving cats a run for their money with how many lives its exhausted with rise-from-the-dead wins against Cap Verde. And Egypt. And Switzerland. None of whom are top teams, mind you.
England, too, has been pushed to the brink in each of its knockout games. Congo in the round of 32 and Norway in the quarterfinals each scored first, forcing England to rally.
France and Spain? Neither has had to break much of a sweat.
“It will be a great game for all the fans,” Yamal said. “I’m sure everyone wanted this game to happen in the World Cup.”
France and Spain have played each other each of the last two summers, with La Roja winning both games.
First was the semifinal at the 2024 European championship, which Spain won 2-1. Last summer, Spain was on the verge of walloping France in the Nations League semifinals, with a 5-1 lead with 15 minutes to play. Les Bleus scored three goals after the 78th minute but couldn’t get the equalizer as Spain held on for the 5-4 win.
But, big as those games were at the time, neither was at the World Cup. This one is.
“The past is in the past. Yes, they did win two games but I’m looking ahead to tomorrow’s game,” Deschamps said.
“I do not want to diminish the importance of these past two games,” he added, “but we’re now at another level.”
In a World Cup semifinal that is, for all intents and purposes, the final.
Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.
Source: USA Today
