ARLINGTON, Texas — The Soccer gods owe us an apology.
The match the world has been waiting to see is not the World Cup final.
Instead, it is Tuesday’s semifinal beneath the roof of Dallas Stadium, where reigning European champion Spain collides with a reborn France team that has looked unstoppable throughout the tournament.
For many, Spain vs. France is the real World Cup final.
Sure, the winner will play in the final against either defending champion Argentina or England, but make no mistake: The tournament’s two best teams are meeting in the semifinal.
And they have looked every bit like the pretournament co-favorites to lift the trophy through their first six matches.
Spain arrives at the semifinal unbeaten in its past 36 matches, just one victory shy of tying Italy’s all-time record.
Luis de la Fuente’s side has conceded just one goal all tournament and has dominated possession in every match.
La Roja have suffocated their opponents like an anaconda strangles its prey with a midfield orchestrated by Dani Olmo, Rodri and Pedri (or Fabián Ruiz).
They even have the tournament’s greatest super sub in Mikel Merino, who became the first substitute in World Cup history to score back-to-back game-winning goals in the knockout stage.
But France has been just as terrifying.
Didier Deschamps’ squad has scored 16 goals in six matches, second only to Argentina, and won five of its six games by two or more goals.
Les Bleus are playing in their third consecutive World Cup semifinal and a victory Tuesday might cement them as the greatest international dynasty we have ever seen.
France’s attack is an avalanche of three of the best goal scorers in the world in Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise.
Their showdown Tuesday is an irresistible clash of styles.
Spain wants the ball. France just wants an opportunity.
“We need to try and impose our game,” said Spanish manager Luis de la Fuente. “We have completely different playing styles. We have to be careful with France’s counterattacks. Their transitions are very devastating.”
La Roja will attempt to dictate the rhythm through their midfield triangle, forcing France’s forwards to defend for long stretches while fullbacks Pedro Porro and Marc Cucurella stretch the field from the flanks.
France will likely allow this to happen, patiently waiting for one misplaced pass before unleashing Mbappé, Dembélé and Olise into the acres of open space left in the Spanish fullbacks’ wake.
It’s a game of chess played at 100 mph.
“If France should fear anyone, it’s us,” 18-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal said after Spain eliminated Belgium in the quarterfinal. “We have knocked them out before. We have beat them two times. Honestly, I think we’re the two best teams at the World Cup, so we’ll see what happens, but we do not have any fear.”
He’s right. Spain has beaten France their past two meetings, first in the Euro 2024 semifinal and in a 5-4 classic in the Nations League last year.
“We have a different team. There’s been a lot of changes since then,” said French midfielder Warren Zaïre-Emery. “We are ready. We want to win and get our revenge from the Euro. We’re going to deliver tomorrow.”
Zaïre-Emery and his teammates in the midfield may ultimately decide whether his proclamation becomes true.
“It’s going to be a very beautiful game between the two best teams in the world,” said Spanish midfielder Álex Baena. “We’ve played against them many times, we’ve won, and hopefully we’ll do it again.”
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Easier said than done.
“We know the four players up top are most comfortable when they have the ball moving offensively,” he said. “We’ll try to have possession and have as few turnovers as possible so we don’t give the advantage to our opponent.”
Spain enters the match with one less day of rest, but won’t use that as an excuse.
“We knew before the World Cup what we signed up for,” Baena said. “When you get closer to the end your legs can feel it a little, but these are not excuses.”
Oddsmakers still see almost nothing separating these giants, with France installed as a slight favorite.
To further hammer the point, the winner would be an even bigger favorite in the final against either England or Argentina.
In soccer, anything can happen. One goal, one mistake can make the difference.
Argentina still has Lionel Messi.
England has Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane.
But unless something extraordinary happens, the likely World Cup champion will be walking off the field Tuesday wearing either blue or red.
