Spain Dominates France in World Cup 2026 Quarterfinals, Drawing Harsh Criticism

In the 2026 World Cup quarterfinals, Spain decisively outplayed France, leading to widespread criticism of the French team. Spain took control early, with Mikel Oyarzabal scoring a perfect penalty in the 20th minute. In the second half, Pedro Poro doubled Spain's lead by exploiting a defensive lapse from the French side. The French defense was described as completely nullified by Spain's dominance.

French media harshly criticized their national team, highlighting Spain's control and the ease with which they dismantled France's defense. Former England striker Chris Sutton remarked that Spain made the French players "look like fools" with their ball movement and praised Pedro Poro's outstanding performance. The BBC also noted the stunned reactions of French fans and the difficulty France faces in mounting a comeback, despite Kylian Mbappe's efforts to encourage his teammates.

The match underscored Spain's superiority in this stage of the tournament and raised questions about France's ability to recover under coach Didier Deschamps. The game has been widely analyzed as a lesson in football mastery delivered by Spain to the French team.