Spain Silence France, March into World Cup Final in Style

Spain produced a tactical masterclass to dismantle tournament favourites France 2-0 on Tuesday, booking their place in the FIFA World Cup final and ending Les Bleus’ quest for a third world title with a commanding display in Arlington, Texas.

The reigning European champions combined discipline, composure and ruthless efficiency to neutralise France’s star-studded attack before goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro sealed a deserved victory at the AT&T Stadium. Spain, champions in 2010, will now face either Argentina or England in Sunday’s final in New Jersey

France arrived in the semi-final as the competition’s most feared side after an impressive, high-scoring run, boasting an attacking quartet of captain Kylian Mbappe, Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele, Bradley Barcola and Michael Olise. But Spain’s organised defence and dominant midfield ensured the French forwards were largely kept quiet throughout the contest.

Having beaten France in their previous two competitive meetings, Spain showed no signs of caution despite pre-match promises to attack. Their midfield trio of Rodri, Fabian Ruiz and Dani Olmo dictated the tempo from the opening whistle, overwhelming Adrien Rabiot and Aurelien Tchouameni to seize complete control of possession.

France briefly threatened on the counterattack, with Pau Cubarsi producing a crucial block to deny Mbappe in the 16th minute, but Spain’s growing dominance soon paid off.

The breakthrough came in the 20th minute after Marc Cucurella’s cross caused confusion in the French penalty area. Lucas Digne, attempting to clear the danger, instead caught Lamine Yamal, prompting referee Ivan Barton to award a penalty. Oyarzabal calmly converted from the spot, sending goalkeeper Mike Maignan the wrong way.

France’s problems deepened in the 31st minute when influential defender William Saliba limped off injured and was replaced by Maxence Lacroix.

Spain continued to create the better chances and almost doubled their advantage before halftime, only for Dayot Upamecano to make a vital block to deny Fabian Ruiz following a sweeping passing move. France finished the first half strongly, but goalkeeper Unai Simon made an outstanding intervention to prevent Mbappe from equalising.

Spain resumed after the break with the same authority, exposing France’s inability to wrest control of midfield. Their superiority was rewarded again in the 58th minute when Porro exchanged a delightful one-two with Olmo before coolly lifting his finish beyond Maignan to make it 2-0.

Spain thought they had added a third just three minutes later, but Lamine Yamal’s effort was ruled out for a marginal offside.

France coach Didier Deschamps responded with several substitutions, but his side struggled to break down Spain’s disciplined defence. Their best opportunity came when Mbappe’s effort at the near post was brilliantly blocked by Simon.

French frustration was evident in the closing stages as Mbappe was booked after a late challenge on the Spanish goalkeeper, while Spain comfortably saw out the match to reach their second World Cup final.

Meanwhile, attention now turns to Wednesday’s second semi-final in Atlanta, where England and Argentina renew one of football’s fiercest rivalries for the remaining place in the final.

The fixture carries deep historical significance, shaped by decades of sporting drama and political tensions surrounding the Falkland Islands, known in Argentina as the Malvinas. The latest meeting comes 40 years after Diego Maradona’s infamous “Hand of God” goal inspired Argentina’s controversial 2-1 victory over England at the 1986 World Cup.

England captain Harry Kane insisted his side would remain focused on the football rather than the history.

“From a player’s point of view, it’s us against a great team who are smart, tactical, know how to buy fouls and slow the game down — like many teams you face throughout your career,” Kane told ITV.

AFP

Victor Osimhen reveals plans to earn university degree after football career

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has revealed that he plans to return to school to earn a university degree after retiring from professional football, saying education remains a lifelong ambition despite his remarkable success on the pitch.

The Nigerian international made the disclosure in an interview that recently resurfaced online after it was first shared by Instablog. During the conversation, Osimhen reflected on his journey from a difficult childhood to becoming one of Africa’s most celebrated footballers, while emphasizing the importance of preparing for life after football.

The 2023 CAF African Footballer of the Year said that although football has transformed his life, he understands that a player’s career is temporary, making education an important investment for the future.

“As an adult, I don’t have everything I learned in school. There are some kinds of life lessons you encounter through life’s journey,” Osimhen said.

He explained that returning to school has remained one of his personal goals, noting that he wants to obtain a university degree after hanging up his boots.

“So for me, it will be an amazing thing to also try to get a degree, which I’m still considering because football is not something you will play for so long, probably 20 or 25 years, and then you’re done,” he added.

According to Osimhen, one of his biggest motivations is to inspire young people who were forced to suspend their education because of financial hardship, family circumstances or other challenges.

He said his decision would demonstrate that dropping out of school does not mean the end of one’s academic journey.

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“For me, it’s to set a standard and an example to the younger generation that even though you dropped out due to some kind of challenges, you can always go back to school because school is always there,” the striker said.

Osimhen’s comments have resonated with many Nigerians, especially considering his inspiring rise from humble beginnings to becoming one of the world’s most sought-after forwards.

Born in Edo State, Osimhen first gained global recognition after emerging as the highest goalscorer at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile, where he scored 10 goals to help Nigeria lift the title.

His performances earned him a move to German club VfL Wolfsburg, but injuries and limited playing opportunities slowed his progress during his early years in Europe.

A successful loan spell at Belgian club Sporting Charleroi revived his career before he secured a permanent move to French side Lille, where his impressive performances attracted interest from several top European clubs.

In 2020, Osimhen completed a record transfer to Italian giants Napoli, where he cemented his place among Europe’s elite strikers.

During the 2022/23 Serie A season, he won the Serie A Golden Boot after finishing as the league’s top scorer with 26 goals and played a key role in helping Napoli win their first Italian league title in 33 years.

His outstanding performances also earned him the prestigious CAF African Footballer of the Year award in 2023, making him the first Nigerian to win the honour in more than two decades.

Osimhen has since continued his career with Galatasaray, where he remains one of the Turkish club’s key attacking players while maintaining his reputation as one of Africa’s finest footballers.

Away from football, the Super Eagles vice-captain has consistently advocated for education and youth empowerment.

In February 2026, he visited Beyond Limits Football Academy in Ikenne, Ogun State, where he donated ₦10 million to support the academy’s development.

During the visit, he urged young footballers to prioritise education alongside sports, stressing that talent alone cannot guarantee lifelong success.

He reminded aspiring athletes that football careers are relatively short and encouraged them to acquire academic qualifications and practical skills that would prepare them for life after retirement.

Education advocates and football stakeholders have praised Osimhen’s latest remarks, describing them as an important message to young Nigerians that success in sports should complement—not replace—education.

His comments also reinforce the growing campaign among professional athletes encouraging young people to balance their sporting ambitions with academic pursuits and long-term personal development.

Victor Osimhen reveals plans to earn university degree after football career

2026 World Cup: Argentina Beat Switzerland, Set Up England Semi-final

Argentina secured a place in the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after defeating Switzerland 3-1 after extra time in a dramatic quarter-final encounter played in sweltering conditions in Kansas City.

The reigning world champions were pushed to the limit by a resilient Swiss side before eventually sealing victory in extra time to keep their hopes of retaining the World Cup title alive.

Argentina took the lead in the first half through midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, who finished off a well-worked attacking move to put Lionel Scaloni’s men ahead.

Switzerland responded strongly after the break and found an equaliser through Dan Ndoye, setting up a tense finish as both teams searched for a decisive goal in normal time.

The complexion of the match changed when Swiss forward Breel Embolo was shown a red card, reducing Switzerland to 10 men and handing Argentina a numerical advantage heading into extra time.

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Argentina capitalised on the extra man in the closing stages. Julián Álvarez restored his side’s lead in the 112th minute with a stunning long-range strike that left the Swiss goalkeeper with no chance.

Lautaro Martínez then put the result beyond doubt with a late goal to complete a 3-1 victory and send Argentina into the last four of the tournament.

The hard-fought win means Argentina will face England in what promises to be one of the biggest matches of the tournament. England booked their place in the semi-finals after edging Norway 2-1 in their quarter-final.

The other semi-final will see France take on Spain in another heavyweight European showdown.

Argentina, champions of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, are now just two matches away from successfully defending their title as they continue their quest for another global triumph.

The semi-final between Argentina and England is scheduled for July 15, while France and Spain will contest the first semi-final a day earlier. The winners of both matches will advance to the World Cup final on July 19.

2026 World Cup: Argentina Beat Switzerland, Set Up England Semi-final