World Cup 2026: Gary Neville Stunned as Spain Outclass France to Reach Final
Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has admitted he was left stunned after Spain produced a commanding 2-0 victory over France to secure a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.
France entered the semi-final as favourites following an impressive run through the tournament, but Luis de la Fuente's side delivered one of their most complete performances to end Les Bleus' title hopes.
Spain took the lead through Mikel Oyarzabal, who converted a penalty after Lucas Digne fouled Lamine Yamal inside the box. Pedro Porro later sealed the victory with a composed finish following a clever assist from Dani Olmo.
The result sends Spain into the World Cup final, where they will face either defending champions Argentina or England.
Reacting after the match on ITV, Neville said he was surprised by the one-sided nature of the contest.
"I think we are in bit of shock. We all had France and they have been blown away."
He reserved special praise for Spain's overall display and highlighted the performances of their full-backs as a decisive factor.
"An absolutely incredible performance from Spain.
"The differential between the two teams could be told through the two full-backs. Cucurella and Porro were outstanding against the French wide players. But Digne really struggled."
Spain's victory continues their remarkable run at the tournament and keeps alive their bid to become world champions for the first time since their historic triumph in 2010.
Opinion:
Gary Neville's reaction reflects the expectations many had before kickoff. France possessed one of the strongest squads in the competition, but Spain's tactical discipline, technical quality, and control of the game exposed weaknesses that had rarely been seen throughout the tournament. The performances of Marc Cucurella and Pedro Porro underlined the importance of modern full-backs in elite football, contributing at both ends of the pitch. If Spain reproduce this level in the final, they will be deserved favourites to lift the World Cup trophy.
