Luca Digne's Costly Error Helps Spain Take Lead Over France in World Cup Semifinal

In the 2026 World Cup semifinal, France fell behind 1-0 against Spain due to a critical mistake by left-back Luca Digne. The 30-year-old defender, who recently transferred from Aston Villa to Paris Saint-Germain and had not been included in France's squads for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, had performed well in the tournament until this moment. However, he mishandled a challenge against 19-year-old Spanish star Amin Yamal inside the penalty area, allowing Spain to gain the advantage.

French media sharply criticized Digne's error, highlighting Yamal's clever use of his body to exploit the defender's poor ball control. Football expert Andres Onrubia noted that attempting to control the ball in such a crucial match without properly tracking the attacker was a costly mistake, marking the first time France trailed in this tournament. L'Equipe described Digne's ball control as particularly poor, enabling Yamal to secure Spain's lead. Le Figaro added that Digne's attempt to correct his initial error by using his chest resulted in a more serious foul.

This pivotal moment has shifted the momentum in the World Cup semifinal, with France now trailing Spain. The match continues as both teams vie for a place in the final.