The scoreline flattered France in one sense and buried them in another: for all their names — Mbappé, Olise, Dembélé, Doué — they generated just 0.3 xG from 10 shots. Spain's back line has been the story of this tournament, and it strangled the Golden Boot leaders.

The tournament's top scorer barely got a kick in a dangerous area. Spain swarmed him in transition and cut off the supply, and — still not quite right after the ankle knock — he never produced the moment France needed. His Golden Boot lead may yet hold, but his tournament could be over.

The 18-year-old was the difference. He ran at Lucas Digne all night and won the decisive penalty when the full-back finally clipped him. A teenager dictating a World Cup semi-final — Spain have found their generational star at exactly the right time.

The build-up got spicy over a reported Yamal quote that 'France should be afraid.' He said it was misinterpreted and the squads largely refused to take the bait — then he let his football do the talking. Bulletin-board material that aged perfectly for Spain.

Clinical where it mattered — Oyarzabal from the spot, then a Porro give-and-go with Olmo — and never troubled at the back. Spain reach their first final since they won it all in 2010, and await Argentina or England. Is anyone stopping this team?