* Spain are chasing a second world title, 16 years after their 2010 triumph* France managed only two shots on target as Spain suffocated them* Spain will face England or Argentina in Sunday's showpiece Spain suffocated France ‌deep in the heart of Texas on Tuesday, powering into their first World Cup ​final since lifting the trophy ‌in 2010 with a spellbinding 2-0 victory thanks to goals from Mikel Oyarzabal ‌and Pedro Porro.From the ⁠opening whistle, the Spaniards ‌wrapped themselves around France like an anaconda, ‌tightening their grip with every wave of pressing and every spell of possession until the life ⁠had been squeezed from a French attack that had looked irresistible throughout the tournament.The European champions are now within one victory of completing a double of the game’s biggest prizes. They will discover their final opponents on Wednesday when England face Argentina in Atlanta for a place in Sunday’s showpiece.For a country that waited generations for its first World Cup, a second title 16 years later would herald the arrival of another Spanish golden era, this ​one built around Lamine Yamal and a side as comfortable without mercy as it is with the ball.Expectation and tension were high in Arlington as ringside announcer Bruce Buffer, a man who has never knowingly used ‌an indoor voice, bellowed the teams ⁠onto the pitch to ​launch a heavyweight clash worthy of the introduction.A contest that had promised so ​much, however, swiftly tilted into a lop-sided affair as the Spaniards controlled the tempo as comprehensively as the ball, and left France chasing shadows.LETHAL ATTACKFrance had come armed with the most lethal attack in world football, but it made little difference. Spain monopolised the ball, closed up the space and starved Les Bleus of the one thing their forwards needed -- possession.Incredibly for an international team, the Spaniards played like the best-drilled of club sides, telepathic in their movement and passing. France were reduced to spectators almost from the start and mustered just two shots on target.It took 22 minutes for Spain to break the deadlock. ‌Marc Cucurella swung a deep cross into ‌the French area that Lucas Digne ⁠brought down on his chest, but as the left back tried to clear, Yamal stepped across ⁠him and was caught by the follow ⁠through. The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.Oyarzabal drilled the penalty high into the net, giving Mike Maignan no chance despite the keeper diving the right way. France had not trailed at this World Cup and the scheduled hydration break could hardly have come at a better moment for Didier Deschamps, handing him an immediate opportunity to settle his rattled side. NO BREATHING SPACEStill, France could ​find no breathing space for their free-flowing football and could have been 2-0 down 15 minutes later when Fabian Ruiz was denied by Dayot Upamecano's last-ditch challenge with the goal at his mercy.So potent against every other nation, France were nullified. Michael Olise was a virtual spectator, smothered by Cucurella, Ousmane Dembele offered little and even their star skipper Kylian Mbappe was unable to conjure any magic.Spain tightened the coil another notch just before the hour, when Porro doubled Spain’s lead, calmly exchanging passes with Dani Olmo before side-footing home, leaving France staring into the abyss.There was to ‌be no respite for ​the increasingly desperate French and Spain's formidable side raised their arms and eyes to the skies as the final whistle blew.

England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has faced World ‌Cup penalty shootouts, semi-finals and some of the biggest names in football during his record-breaking career, ​but there is one challenge that ‌has eluded him until now.When England take on Lionel Messi and reigning champions Argentina in Wednesday's ‌World Cup semi-final in ⁠Atlanta, Pickford will come up ‌against the eight-times Ballon d'Or winner for the ‌first time.For a player who broke Peter Shilton's record for most England World Cup appearances when he started his 18th ⁠match in the quarter-final against Norway, the occasion carries a sense of history.The 32-year-old Everton player was eight when England last met Argentina, during the group stage of the 2002 World Cup."I remember being sat in school on the floor watching when the teacher wheeled in the TV, so I'll never forget that moment," Pickford told reporters on Monday."He's scored so many goals and he's contributed to so many goals all his career, and it's great to be able to finally come up against him after so long and watching him as a ​kid," Pickford said of the 39-year-old Messi, who is playing in his sixth World Cup.The goalkeeper warned, however, about treating Argentina as a one-man team. "We all know how good Messi is, but we also know how good Argentina are, Pickford said. "We've got our ‌thoughts on their other strengths as well, ⁠and the other weaknesses ​we can take advantage of."England arrived among the favourites and have navigated numerous pressure situations, including ​a 10-man win over Mexico, throughout the tournament, which Pickford said underlined a resilience that has become a defining characteristic of Thomas Tuchel's side."I've always said the togetherness gets you there. Then the ability shows as well," he said. "But the togetherness, if you've got that togetherness like we have, that's a great tool to have."DARK ARTSArgentina's run to the semi-finals has been accompanied by complaints over refereeing decisions and the team's mastery of football's so-called "dark arts", but Pickford said England would not be distracted by anything. "Throughout the tournament, you've seen our desire to win titles. We've not got into any scuffles or anything, we've been very well respected within the game," he said. "Decisions go our way, they don't go our way. We just reset, and we let the ‌football do the talking. "We've not had, apart from ‌Jarell (Quansah, who was suspended for two games), any ⁠suspensions or anything like that. It shows the mentality we have, we don't get wrapped up in things like ⁠that. We stay focused. We stay together."Tuchel raised eyebrows ⁠after the Norway win when he angrily highlighted areas England needed to improve in, and Pickford agreed the team had not reached their peak."Like the manager said, the mentality we have in abundance and the togetherness we have, but we're not the finished article," he said. "We hope the cream rises to the top. And we'll always keep working harder to keep improving because you don't want to think: the job's done against Norway."Pickford was England's keeper during the last-16 shootout against ​Colombia in 2018, saving Carlos Bacca's penalty before Eric Dier converted the winning spot-kick to secure England's first World Cup shootout victory.Pickford said the players were determined to reward the faith of a nation daring to dream of World Cup glory for the first time since 1966."You know how we feel, you see us after every game, and to have the nation behind us at home doesn't go unseen. We know how much it means to them, but we also know how much it means to us, and we pay huge credit to them enjoying themselves. We're doing it for them as well," Pickford said."That was the first goal, looking back at 2018 (under previous manager Gareth Southgate), ‌it was about connecting the ​nation. Now we're in the semi-final (again), and we know Argentina is going to be a tough game, but we want to put smiles on (supporters') faces as well."