Spain are through to the World Cup final. A composed 2-0 win over France in the semi-final booked La Roja's place in the July 19 showpiece at MetLife Stadium, and on the evidence of this knockout run, they will be nobody's idea of an easy final opponent.
France, one of the pre-tournament favourites, could not find a way through. Spain controlled the game the way they have controlled most of their knockout ties: patient in possession, ruthless when the chance came, and untroubled at the back. Two goals were enough, and it rarely looked like being any different.
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Third-place game · Jul 18
France vs TBD
How Spain got here
This has been a march built on control rather than fireworks. A 3-0 win over Austria in the Round of 32 set the tone. The Round of 16 delivered the tie of the round, an Iberian derby against Portugal settled 1-0. Then Belgium, the team that had thrashed the USA, were beaten 2-1 in the quarter-final. And now France, dispatched 2-0. No penalty shootouts, no extra time, no scares that lingered. Spain have simply been the better team in every knockout game they have played.
France's tournament ends in the semis
For France it is a familiar, bitter stage to bow out. They had cruised past Paraguay and Morocco in the earlier rounds, but ran into a Spain side operating at a level nobody else in the tournament has matched. They will play in the third-place game on July 18 against the loser of England vs Argentina, a consolation that will feel like little comfort.
One game to go
Spain now wait to learn their final opponent: the winner of England vs Argentina. Whoever it is, Spain will start as favourites on current form. Use the tracker above to pick the other semi-final and the final yourself, and see who you think lifts the trophy on July 19.
Follow the run-in on the knockout bracket, the live odds, and read the England vs Argentina semi-final preview.