Spain has reached the World Cup final, extending their remarkable unbeaten streak to 37 matches across all competitions. The team secured their spot with a 2-0 victory over France in the semi-finals, maintaining a defensive record of one goal conceded since their opening match draw against Cape Verde.
Manager Luis de la Fuente expressed confidence that his players are peaking at the opportune moment, drawing parallels to Spain's 2010 World Cup victory and Argentina's 2022 win, both of which saw the teams overcome early stumbles. Spain's semi-final win saw goals from Pedro Porro and Mikel Oyarzabal.
Meanwhile, France's coach Didier Deschamps questioned the refereeing standard during his team's loss and is reportedly set to be replaced by Zinedine Zidane after a 14-year tenure. French player William Saliba was substituted due to a back injury.
In preparation for their semi-final clash, England's manager Thomas Tuchel addressed concerns about his team's readiness, dismissing historical context and focusing on the present. He also confirmed a positive relationship with player Jude Bellingham, despite recent public comments.
England faces Argentina in what is anticipated to be a challenging match. Questions remain about the fitness of key player Declan Rice, who has been recovering from an illness that saw him substituted at halftime in a previous game. England's absences include Jordan Henderson due to surgery and Jarell Quansah due to suspension.
The officiating in Argentina's matches has drawn scrutiny from several nations, and the appointment of Ismail Elfath as the referee for the England-Argentina game has also been noted. Elfath has previously officiated matches involving Lionel Messi, with his team winning each occasion.
Amidst the tournament, Spain's midfielder Fabian Ruiz has reached 49 caps for his country without a single loss, highlighting Spain's consistent performance. The team's unbeaten run is the joint-longest by a European nation, matching Italy's record.
Celebrities including David and Victoria Beckham, Usain Bolt, Noah Lyles, Timothee Chalamet, and Javier Bardem have been observed attending matches. There were also reports of boos being heard during a broadcast, which were attributed by commentators to the owner of the Dallas Cowboys NFL team rather than FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
Following France's exit, reports emerged of disturbances in France, with police dispersing fans in Paris and clashes occurring in Lyon. France's Kylian Mbappe made his 21st World Cup appearance in the semi-final, surpassing Hugo Lloris for the most World Cup outings for the French national team.