France v Spain: Live updates from the Fifa World Cup semi-final in Dallas
Follow the action as France and Spain square off for a place in the Fifa World Cup final.
77 min - Double change for Spain
Ben Francis
Spain are brining on more big names with Mikel Merino and Pedro on, replacing Dani Olmo and Fabian Ruiz respectively.
Yamal on top
Winston Aldworth
Spain's silky Lamine Yamal might not mind that yellow card too much. He has played against French flyer Kylian Mbappe 10 times for club and country and has come out on top in eight of those matches.
76 min - Superstar takes down superstar
Ben Francis
Not something you see often, but Kylian Mbappé is taken down by Lamine Yamal. It was a sliding challenge and surprising a card was not given.
Midfield masters
Winston Aldworth
The goalscorers will get the plaudits, but Spain's midfielders Rodri and Fabian Ruiz have set the tone for their team's performance with comfortable control of the ball.
72 min - France make double change as play resumes
Ben Francis
France make two changes as the match gets back underway.
Michael Olise and Lucas Digne both make way as Rayan Cherki and Theo Hernandez come on.
Spain also make a chance with Ferran Torres coming on and Mikel Oyarzabal heading off.
The stats
Winston Aldworth
Going into the final quarter, Spain have had eight shots (two on target), while France have fired four shots (one on target). On possession it's 53% to 41% in Spain's favour.
With their midfield dominance, Spain have completed 337 passes to France's 270.
67 min - Hydration break
Ben Francis
The second hydration break is taking place. France will need this time to regroup as they will need a miracle to make the final from here. Spain are well on top.
67 min - Another corner to France
Ben Francis
France throwing everything they can at Spain and they are looking more switched on. Mbappé fires another shot which takes a deflection and goes out for another corner.
64 min - France win corner
Ben Francis
Kylian Mbappé attacks down the short side and attempts a shot with a tight angle which is saved and goes out for a corner. They then win another corner and their next attempt comes to nothing.
61 min - Yamal has goal ruled out
Ben Francis
Just like that Spain are back on the attack and Lamine Yamal is one-on-one with the keeper and beats his, but the offside flag is up.
Yamal is dominating his opposite Lucas Digne right now.
Flat-footed defender
Winston Aldworth
Spain's second goal was gorgeous, but replacement French defender Maxence Lacroix, who came on for William Saliba after 30 minutes, might have some explaining to do about how ended up so flat footed and stranded as Pedro Porro dashed through to score.
58 - Spain double their lead
Ben Francis
Pedro Porro finds the back of the net and it is game, set and possibly match for Spain now!
Porro plays a ball to Olmo, and Porro gets the return pass and he keeps his composure to pass the ball beyond Maignan.
That was pure class from the Spanish.
56 min - France making third change
Ben Francis
Another change for France with Bradley Barcola making way and Désiré Doué coming on. It feels like it is all or nothing for France.
53 min - France looking flat on attack
Ben Francis
France are trying everything to find a crack in Spain's defence, but nothing is working. They need more from their creative players like Dembele and Olise in the attacking third.
The stats
Winston Aldworth
Spain have had 53% of the possession (France just 40%). And the Iberians have fired six shots to the Gauls two.
50 min - Chance for Spain, but offside
Ben Francis
The first chance of the second half goes to Spain as Lamine Yamal scampers away down the right, but he's flagged offside.
46 min - France make halftime change
Ben Francis
Adrien Rabiot has been taken off and replaced by Manu Kone. A large part of that would have been his early yellow card, but they have already made two changes.
Second half underway
Ben Francis
France get the action back underway in Dallas. This will be an intriguing 45 minutes coming up.
History against France
Ben Francis
ITV pundits on UK television have been weighing in
Ben Francis
Patrick Vieira: “The French team didn’t turn up. They need to play with more intensity. It’s comfortable for the Spanish to control the game. France can’t be worse than the first half.”
Gary Neville (on the penalty): “Only the elite top players do this. Lamine waits for Digne to turn and then he sprints. It’s exceptional.”
Roy Keane: “It’s still poor defending. Spain look sharper. Off the ball they are working so hard, working in packs.”
Halftime stats
Ben Francis
Spain have been excellent at controlling their possession and limiting space and chances for France's ridiculous attacking weapons to run.
Spain finished the half with 55% possession along with five shots, with just one on target. France have managed just two.
Talking point from the first half
Ben Francis
Big talking point of the first half will be the moment referee Ivan Barton (from El Salvador and presumably no relation of Joey) changed his mind on a juicy freekick chance he'd awarded to France right on the edge of the Spanish box.
The original foul was on Ousmane Dembele by Fabian Ruiz. But Barton changed his mind, after marking out the 10 yards for defenders to step back. He likely got a quiet word in his ear from one of his assistants. Is that legit? Answers on a postcard...
Halftime - Spain closing in on spot in World Cup final
Ben Francis
Spain take a deserved 1-0 lead in to the break, thanks to a penalty from Mikel Oyarzabal.
Spain started the match stronger of the two sides, but France have worked their way back in to the match, but yet to find the net.
Spain's only previous trip to the World Cup final was in 2010, when they beat the Netherlands in the decider.
45 + 3 min - Missed chance for France
Ben Francis
Kounde teases a ball across the face of goal towards Mbappe, but it ends up going just beyond his grasp.
45 + 1 min - A-League royalty in the stands
Ben Francis
An icon of the A-League is in the stands.
Well known footballer and occasional sprinter Usain Bolt is in Dallas watching the game.
Other than winning multiple Olympic medals, Bolt spent eight weeks with the Central Coast Mariners in 2018 and featured in some friendly matches.
45 min - Six minutes of added time
Ben Francis
We still have a little longer to play, with six added minutes.
44 min - Weird moments before the break
Ben Francis
Referee Ivan Barton awards France a free kick on the edge of the box, but somebody is in his ear, and the call is overturned. Had a similar feeling to the All Blacks v Italy match on the weekend.
42 min - Spain come up with huge defensive play
Ben Francis
France playing the ball down the left wing and a ball is played through for Mbappe, but Unai Simón read the play well and flew outside of the box to clear it.
40 min - End of first half approaches
Ben Francis
The end of the first half is near, although there is also injury time to play.
Will Spain maintain their lead or can France find an equaliser?
38 min - Huge chance for Spain
Ben Francis
Spain create the best chance of the game. They work a nice move inside the box and Yamal crosses the ball for Fabián Ruiz, but Dayot Upamecano just gets his foot to the ball and it goes out for a corner, which leads to nothing.
35 min - Both sides shooting high and wide
Ben Francis
Both sides are looking for a big moment in the game and are attempting to shoot from distance, but all the efforts so far have gone well high of the goal. Maybe if they NFL posts were up then maybe one would have gone over.
31 min - Cucurella gets yellow card
Ben Francis
Marc Cucurella catches Michael Olise and the referee is quick to pull out another card.
30 min - A huge moment for France
Ben Francis
Play has stopped briefly as defender William Saliba is on the ground injured, pointing to his back.
He doesn't take long getting to his feet, but appears very ginger and is ultimately replaced by Maxence Lacroix.
This is a big loss for France.
27 min - Play resumes
Ben Francis
The match is back underway, and France go right back on the attack.
24 min - Hydration break
Ben Francis
End of the first quarter, and for the first time at this World Cup, France are behind.
22 min - Spain hit the front
Ben Francis
Mikel Oyarzabal smashes the ball in to the right corner, flying past Mike Maignan, who dives the right way, but is nowhere near it.
Spain hit the front.
20 min - Penalty to Spain
Ben Francis
Spain win a penalty and this is a huge moment in the game.
Lucas Digne attempts a clearing header, but misjudges it and he turns around the clear it but instead of kicking the ball, he makes contact with Lamine Yamal, who falls to the ground.
Referee Ivan Barton does not hesitate pointing to the spot. That is a moment Digne would love back.
15 min - France counter
Ben Francis
France show you how deadly they can be on the counter attack. They turn the ball over and Dembele plays a great ball to Mbappe inside the attacking zone, but the Spanish defence holds firm.
13 min - Spain continue to dominate possession
Ben Francis
Only early in the match, but Spain have had 63% possession already in the match. Haven't been able to create much as of yet, but this is like a chess match with plenty riding on it.
10 min - Spain fail to convert
Ben Francis
An odd choice by Spain with Lamine Yamal's free kick going straight in to the defensive wall and France get out of danger.
8 min - Free kick to Spain
Ben Francis
Spain win a free kick on the edge of the penalty box.
Adrien Rabiot gets a yellow card after standing on the foot of Dani Olmo.
This is a huge chance for Spain.
5 min - Corner to France
Ben Francis
France turn the ball over and go on the counter attack through Bradley Barcol. Spanish defender Pedro Porro clears the ball away and it goes out for a corner, but it comes to nothing.
2 min - Spain dominating possession early
Ben Francis
Spain looking to play forwards early on and have already turned the ball over on a couple of occasions.
We are underway
Ben Francis
The match has begun in Dallas.
France are in their blue shirt, while short combo, while Spain are wearing a white shirt and maroon colour short.
Spain dominant in recent meetings
Ben Francis
Spain have lost just two of their last 10 meetings with France in all competitions (won seven, drawn one), winning their most recent meeting 5-4 in the Nations League in June 2025.
Squads are out
Ben Francis
Here are the starting teams for both sides.
France: Mike Maignan, Lucas Digne, Dayot Upamecano, William Saliba, Jules Koundé, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Adrien Rabiot, Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembélé, Bradley Barcola, Kylian Mbappé
Spain: Unai Simón, Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsí, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella, Alex Baena, Rodri, Fabián Ruiz, Lamine Yamal, Mikel Oyarzabal, Dani Olmo
Christopher Reive
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