​ARLINGTON, TX — It finally happened in the 81st minute of a 90-minute match. The most fearsome attack in the world put a shot on target.France manager Didier Deschamps had headaches selecting which of his top-class attackers to play, putting fearsome foursomes on the field spearheaded by Kylian Mbappé, spurred on by the creativity of Michael Olise and with Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé on one wing.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThey had smashed through teams, scoring six goals in three knockout matches on the way to Tuesday’s semifinal.Then, it met Spain.The Désiré Doué shot from outside the box in the 81st and two shots by Dembélé from tight angles in the 96th and 97th minute as France desperately tried to break through were the only efforts they were able to put on Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon over the course of 90 minutes. Once again these teams met in a semifinal. Once again, France is out, with Spain winning 2-0 thanks to a goal on either side of halftime.1 / 35Spain’s defender #12 Pedro Porro celebrates after his team won the semi-final match against France, securing a spot in the 2026 World Cup final.(MAURO PIMENTEL, AFP via Getty Images)It had happened before.In two other halfs during this World Cup, France had been kept from getting a shot on goal. But keeping them quiet for nearly 90 minutes was something else entirely. So, too, was the extra dimension Spain had compared to a team like Paraguay, which frustrated France for much of their round of 16 contest.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementRather than bunker and pray France wouldn’t break through, Spain also put pressure on France with their attack via winger Lamine Yamal, whose speed keeps wide defenders honest, and Dani Olmo, who was happy to push the ball toward the goal Spain was attacking every time he had the ball at his feet, and by a counter-press that insured France’s attackers were surrounded any time they won the ball back.So often, Yamal, forward Mikel Oyarzabal and other attackers often steal the headlines, even with Spain having allowed just one goal on the way to the final. Yet, in the semifinal it once again was La Roja’s back four and the midfield duo of Rodri and Fabián Ruiz who shut things down.Spain manager Luis de la Fuente continues to put Ruiz into the starting XI, even with a healthy Pedri at his disposal. The PSG man’s physical size gives him extra presence in the box, but he was everywhere Tuesday, breaking up play and getting into the attacking third when the moment called for it. The decision to stick with Ruiz over Pedri looks better with each game and each performance from Ruiz, who ended the day with seven defensive contributions, including a blocked shot in the area.That made life easier for the center backs, with Pau Cubarsí − like Yamal a 19-year-old Barcelona player already playing well beyond his years − turning in a solid performance and the France-born Aymeric Laporte playing a superb match. The Basque defender would