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France's hopes of reaching a third consecutive FIFA World Cup final came to an end after a 2-0 defeat to Spain in the semifinal. The loss marked France's first World Cup defeat by a two-goal margin since 2010, ending an impressive tournament run for Didier Deschamps' side.

Spain controlled much of the match from the opening whistle, limiting France's attacking stars and making the most of their opportunities. Their breakthrough came in the 21st minute after Lucas Digne was judged to have fouled Lamine Yamal inside the penalty area. Mikel Oyarzabal confidently converted the penalty to give Spain a deserved lead.

France struggled to create clear chances throughout the first half, while Spain remained organized defensively and comfortable in possession. Deschamps introduced Manu Koné after halftime in an attempt to change the momentum, but the adjustment failed to spark a comeback.

Spain doubled its advantage in the second half when Dani Olmo produced a clever flick to release Pedro Porro, who calmly finished to score his second goal of the tournament. Although Lamine Yamal also found the net later in the match, the goal was ruled out for offside.

France responded with several substitutions, bringing on Désiré Doué, Rayan Cherki, and Theo Hernández, but the fresh legs made little difference. Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, and Michael Olise found it difficult to influence the game as Spain's disciplined defense limited their space and opportunities. Dembélé managed a late effort on target, but it was comfortably saved by Unai Simón.

Following the match, Deschamps questioned the officiating, particularly the decision to award Spain the first-half penalty. While he avoided placing the blame solely on the referee, he suggested that several decisions throughout the game were disappointing from France's perspective.

Despite the controversy, Spain's overall performance left little doubt about the outcome. Their defensive organization, efficient finishing, and control of possession proved decisive as they secured a place in the World Cup final.

Spain will now face the winner of the semifinal between England and Argentina, while France will compete in the third-place playoff. For Deschamps, who is expected to step down after the tournament, the match also marked the end of his pursuit of a second World Cup title as France's head coach.