Spain suffocated France today, powering into their first World Cup final since lifting the trophy in 2010 with a dominant 2-0 victory that left the tournament’s most feared attack gasping for air.
From the opening whistle, Reuters said that the Spaniards wrapped themselves around France like an anaconda, tightening their grip with every wave of pressing and every spell of possession until the life had been squeezed from a French strike force that had looked unstoppable throughout the tournament.
Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro delivered the goals, but the scoreline barely reflected Spain’s authority as the European champions monopolised possession and denied France’s vaunted forward line any platform from which to attack.
Spain are now within one victory of completing a World Cup-European Championship double.
They will discover their final opponents tomorrow when England face Argentina in Atlanta for a place in Sunday’s showpiece.
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