Staring it out until after midnight to watch Spain vs France in the semifinal, I’m left with nothing but awe in my mind, and I honestly don’t feel like staying up was a waste. Throughout the match, Spain pushed its possession-based style to the extreme—locking down the tempo in midfield, with every pass linked together in a smooth, silky flow. They completely curtailed Mbappé’s impact, and France had a hard time building any effective attacks.

In the first half, they broke the deadlock with a penalty. In the second, they steadied the game and struck again, winning 2-0 and advancing to the final. This youthful revamped squad is really eye-catching—well-balanced in both attack and defense, and their record of more than thirty matches unbeaten is well deserved. By contrast, France’s offense was constrained everywhere; they couldn’t produce the kind of attacking threat they used to, and being knocked out in the semifinals is genuinely a shame.

After watching the match, I couldn’t fall asleep for a long time. I’m both marveling at Spain’s strong team coordination and eagerly anticipating the upcoming final. It’s rare to see a matchup of such high quality, and sacrificing some sleep for a short time is absolutely worth it. Now I’m getting some rest and waiting for the ultimate title decider.
#2026 World Cup