Footballing immortality had been within touching distance. On a sweltering afternoon in Dallas, it slipped away.

Pedro Porro, who scored Spain's second goal in the 2-0 win over favourites France on Wednesday, said reaching the World Cup final was "a dream come true".

Kylian Mbappe rued the end of France's World Cup dream on Wednesday, blaming tactical and technical blunders for his side's 2-0 semifinal defeat to France.

France coach Didier Deschamps said his players were left "devastated" by their World Cup semifinal defeat to Spain on Wedesday before aiming a barb at match referee Ivan Barton from El Salvador.

European champions Spain beat France 2-0 in the World Cup semifinals on Tuesday, producing a controlled display to book a place in Sunday's final.

France recalled Bradley Barcola to their attack and Aurelien Tchouameni in midfield for their World Cup semifinal against Spain on Wednesday as Luis de la Fuente named an unchanged side.

It could be a match of validation of their particular styles, but rarely do two sides meet on the world stage with such an assembly of class and potential.

The dazzling Yamal is still catching up off the field, but his record against Mbappe on the pitch is impressive.