14, July 2026
Football: Spain delivers master class to sink French Armada and reach World Cup final 0
European champions Spain scored a goal in each half to defeat favourites France at the Dallas Stadium on Tuesday and book a place in the World Cup final, where they will face the winner of the other semi-final between England and Argentina.
Spain stunned tournament favourites France 2-0 to reach the World Cup final on Tuesday, producing a tactical masterpiece to shatter Les Bleus’ dreams of winning the title for the third time.
A first-half penalty from Mikel Oyarzabal and a 58th-minute Pedro Porro goal sealed an utterly clinical victory for the European champions at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Spain, World Cup winners in 2010, will now face either Argentina or England in Sunday’s final in New Jersey.
France had entered the showdown as the overwhelming favourites for the tournament after a dazzling, goal-laden run to the semi-finals.
But France’s vaunted front four of captain Kylian Mbappé, Ballon D’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé, Bradley Barcola and Michael Olise were snuffed out by a combination of Spanish poise and power.
Spain, who had beaten France in their previous two competitive meetings, had vowed to go on the front foot in the pre-match build-up and they proved as good as their word.
A commanding performance by Spain’s midfield led by Manchester City star Rodri and assisted by Fabian Ruiz and Dani Olmo never allowed the French to gain a foothold in the contest.
Spain’s midfield quickly overran the outnumbered French duo of Adrien Rabiot and Aurelien Tchouameni, passing around their opponents with ease to control the early exchanges.
The first signs of French frustration came after just nine minutes when midfielder Rabiot was booked for treading on Olmo’s foot on the edge of the area.
Yet despite the early dominance it was France who looked the more threatening when venturing into the final third, and it needed a desperate late block by Pau Cubarsi to thwart Mbappe in the 16th minute as the French captain looked to break clear.
Early dominance
Spain’s early dominance got its reward in the 20th minute, though, when a hopeful cross by Marc Cucurella flew across the penalty area.
Lucas Digne didn’t get enough purchase on his attempted headed clearance and as the Aston Villa player instinctively swung out a leg he kicked Yamal, sending the Barcelona star crashing to the turf.
El Salvadoran referee Ivan Barton pointed immediately to the spot and after a brief delay as French players loitered, Oyarzabal stepped up to sweep in a spot-kick that beat the dive of French goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
France’s rocky start got worse after 31 minutes when key central defender William Saliba hobbled off with an injury to be replaced by Maxence Lacroix.
Spain almost doubled their lead with a sublime passing move on 38 minutes when wonderful interplay on the edge of the area sliced open France’s defence, with Dayot Upamecano’s block denying Fabian Ruiz.
France enjoyed their best spell in the closing minutes of the first half and only excellent anticipation from Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon denied Mbappe after Rabiot’s clever through ball.
Spain though reasserted themselves at the start of the second half and Deschamps’ failure to adjust France’s tactics again left the Spanish midfield in charge.
On 58 minutes, Spain struck the hammer blow. Porro and Olmo worked a sensational one-two on the edge of the area that sent Porro through and the Tottenham defender clipped a fine finish past Maignan.
Only a fractional offside decision denied Spain a third goal in the 61st minute, when Lamal had the ball in the net.
Deschamps made a flurry of substitutions but France were unable to penetrate Spain’s smothering defence, their best chance coming when Mbappe’s shot was blocked at the near post by Simon.
French frustration was symbolised by Mbappe in the closing minutes, booked for following through on Simon as Spain closed out the victory.
Source: AFP
31, July 2026
AC Milan ‘in tears’ at death of Italian football legend Baresi 0
Italian defender Franco Baresi, the captain of AC Milan in the 1980s and 1990s when they won three European Cups and six Italian league titles, has died at the age of 66, the club announced on Friday.
“Milan is in tears following the passing of Franco Baresi. His example and integrity will be forever etched into the Club’s DNA, just as his iconic number 6 shirt is,” AC Milan, of which Baresi became honorary vice-president in 2020, wrote on X.
“We must be strong and gather every bit of energy, even at this saddest of times.
“We lost Franco only a few months after his last public appearance in a packed San Siro, at the Milan Winter Olympics opening ceremony, an event on the world stage he helped make unforgettable.
“In memory of Franco, we stand united, knowing he’ll guide and push us throughout our Rossoneri journey. Forever. Because Baresi is forever.”
A World Cup winner with Italy in 1982 and a finalist at the 1994 World Cup, Baresi is regarded as one of the greatest sweepers in football history.
AC Milan did not specify the cause of Baresi’s death.
He had undergone surgery in August 2025 to remove a lung nodule.
“It will take me a little time to get all my strength back,” he said shortly afterwards.
Born in Lombardy in May 1960, Baresi joined AC Milan’s youth teams in 1974, before moving up to the first team in 1978 ahead of his 18th birthday.
He then became a starter at 18 and captain at 22, noticed for his technique, anticipation and tackling skills, as well as his notable leadership qualities.
Baresi went on to form, alongside Paolo Maldini, Mauro Tassotti and Alessandro Costacurta, a defence feared by every striker in Europe.
He retired in 1997 after 719 matches with the Rossoneri, a record surpassed only by Maldini.
“Today I feel the same thing as to when for one reason or another you were unable to be on the pitch with us,” said Maldini.
“How are we going to cope without our captain?”
‘Greatest of defenders’
Gianluigi Buffon, Italy’s 2006 World Cup-winning goalkeeper, said his Serie A debut for Parma had stayed with him.
“November 19, 1995, I made my debut in Serie A against Milan,” he wrote.
“I was 17… to be on the pitch against such a champion was an unbelievable experience.”
In addition to his red and black club jersey, Baresi wore the blue of the Nazionale 81 times.
But after a World Cup title from the bench in 1982, he did not make the trip to Mexico in 1986 following a disagreement with the national coach.
Penalty shootouts, in the semi-final of the 1990 World Cup and then in the final in 1994, shattered his hopes of another triumph.
A Diego Maradona-led Argentina were their nemesis in the 1990 semi-final, but the late Argentinian superstar had paid him the greatest tribute when his club Napoli beat Milan 3-0 in a Serie A game the year before.
He asked for Baresi’s shirt and donned it in a post-match interview.
“He is the greatest of defenders. It is a memory I will keep for the rest of my life,” he said.
Baresi performed various roles for Milan in his retirement, the only time he spent away from them was a brief spell as technical director of English club Fulham.
“Ultimately, it was only a month: before the end of August, I was already back in Milan,” he told Gazzetta dello Sport in 2025.
“I realised it wasn’t the place for me, and in the end, I didn’t even start working. The umbilical cord with Milan was never broken.”
However, he was never a man to feature in the gossip pages preferring to spend time abroad for the Milan Foundation which he found educational and rewarding.
“With Fondazione Milan, I witnessed poverty in Kenya and Morocco,” he told Gazzetta.
“In Lebanon, I played football in the street with children. These are emotions that have completed me.”
Source: AFP