Spain's ratings paint a masterclass in dominance

Spain sent France to their lowest ebb in knockout football with a 2-0 World Cup semi-final victory, the player ratings revealing something more damning than the scoreline itself: comprehensive superiority across every position and phase of play.

Rodri anchored the midfield with a 7.13 rating—the highest on the pitch. BBC Sport noted an "outstanding performance by the Spain captain as France were suffocated and the midfield dominated their opponents from start to finish." The numbers reflected that dominance: 68 passes (most on the field), 4 tackles, and 15 duels with 11 won. Rodri didn't merely control possession; he controlled the tempo, the angles, and the rhythm France needed to construct attacks. Every pass was calculated, every position carefully held.

Alongside him, Pau Cubarsí commanded the left side of Spain's defense with a 7.47 rating. GOAL praised his display: he "read the game superbly to constantly make blocks and interceptions around his own penalty area" and even showcased his dribbling ability, suggesting a confidence that extended beyond defensive cover. Aymeric Laporte provided orchestration from the opposite flank, earning a 7.43 rating for 76 passes at over 90% accuracy. Few defenders move the ball with that precision for 90 minutes under sustained pressure. BBC Sport highlighted that he remained "cool and composed on the few occasions he found himself under pressure"—a crucial quality when France's attacks did gather momentum.

The attacking contributions came from an unexpected source. Pedro Porro, operating as a right-back with attacking license, managed a 7.99 rating—second-highest on the pitch. He supplied a goal in the 58th minute and managed 28 passes, 6 duels contested and 4 won. It was the output of a defender playing with the freedom Spain could afford because France's left flank offered no consistent threat.

France's attacking arsenal failed to ignite. Kylian Mbappé limped through with a 5.89 rating—France's lowest starting player. GOAL was blunt: he "had just one shot and didn't create anything." BBC Sport supplied specifics: during the first half alone, he managed "just two touches in Spain's penalty area...and struggled to cause much of a threat." Three shots across 90 minutes, zero on target. Isolation of that degree is rarely accidental; it reflects a system Spain executed to perfection.

Ousmane Dembélé managed a 6.69 rating across the full 90 minutes, understating his ineffectuality. Thirty passes, two shots on target, one key pass: a winger playing against a wall constructed by Rodri and Laporte. Michael Olise, who had created assists freely in earlier rounds, was systematically neutralized. His 6.35 rating in 72 minutes came with 34 passes and zero shots. By the 80th minute, France had failed to register a single shot on target—a statistical verdict no amount of attacking talent can overcome.

How Spain opened the scoring

Lamine Yamal won a penalty in the 22nd minute when Lucas Digne fouled him in the box. Mikel Oyarzabal converted with the composure of a tournament finisher, earning a 7.09 match rating and his fifth goal of this World Cup.

Porro doubled the advantage in the 58th minute after trading passes with Dani Olmo on the box edge. A Yamal goal was later disallowed for the narrowest offside margin, but by then Spain's control was absolute.

Into the final

Spain advance to their first World Cup final since 2010. Luis de la Fuente's side did not win through fortune or a favorable run—the player ratings expose a team operating at a noticeably higher level across every department. France possessed attacking talent. Spain possessed midfield command, defensive organization, and the clinical edge when required. That gap, reflected in the ratings from Rodri to Mbappé, defined the semi-final.