Match story
- Norway fired more attempts (13 vs 4 shots).
Norway defeated Cyprus 0-2 in the UEFA Nations League. The fixture is part of the League C - 6 stage in the 2018 season. The match was played at GSP Stadium in Nicosia. Istvan Vad, Hungary officiated the match. The full-time result capped a Cyprus vs Norway meeting in UEFA Nations League with detailed post-match statistics available on Sportra. This match centre covers lineups, live events, player ratings, team statistics, xG, head-to-head history, and related news for Cyprus and Norway. On Sportra you can view xG, lineups, match statistics, events, player ratings, predictions, head-to-head history, and related news for this fixture.
UEFA Nations LeagueRecorded meetings: 0 (available previous meetings, not necessarily all-time).
The stakes couldn't be higher, and fans are buzzing to see exactly how this do-or-die result will define the ultimate road to the tournament's biggest prize. France and Spain are squaring off in an absolutely massive Semi-finals showdown at the 2026 World Cup. Didier Deschamps’ squad is gearing up to battle Luis de la Fuente’s reigning European champions in Arlington. The stakes couldn’t be higher, and fans are buzzing to see exactly how this do-or-die result will define the ultimate road to the tournament’s biggest prize. France enters the contest after an impressive run through the knockout rounds, while Spain has continued to showcase the possession-based soccer that has become its trademark. With stars such as Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise, Desire Doue, Rodri, and Lamine Yamal expected to feature, the semifinal promises to be one of the standout matches of the competition. France arrives with confidence Les Bleus have looked like one of the tournament’s most complete teams. They topped their group before defeating Sweden, Paraguay, and Morocco to reach the semifinal without conceding a goal in the knockout rounds. Didier Deschamps has built an attack capable of hurting opponents in several different ways. Mbappe leads the Golden Boot race with eight goals. At the same time, Dembele continues to justify his reputation after winning the Ballon d’Or, and Olise has emerged as one of the tournament’s leading creators. DateFrance’s OpponentStageResultJuly 9, 2026MoroccoQuarter-finalsWin (2-0)July 4, 2026ParaguayRound of 16Win (1-0)June 30, 2026SwedenRound of 32Win (3-0)June 26, 2026NorwayGroup StageWin (4-1)June 22, 2026IraqGroup StageWin (3-0)June 16, 2026SenegalGroup StageWin (3-1) The team has also become increasingly balanced as the tournament has progressed. Adrien Rabiot and Manu Kone have provided stability behind an explosive front four, allowing Deschamps to play with greater attacking freedom than in previous World Cups. Spain continues to trust its identity Spain has taken a different route to the semifinals. Luis de la Fuente’s side has relied on patience, possession and defensive discipline, conceding only once throughout the tournament. Rodri continues to dictate the tempo in midfield, while Lamine Yamal remains one of soccer’s brightest young stars despite not yet reaching his peak scoring form in North America. Mikel Merino has repeatedly delivered from the bench, scoring decisive late goals against both Portugal and Belgium. DateSpain’s OpponentStageResultJuly 10, 2026BelgiumQuarter-finalsWin (2-1)July 6, 2026PortugalRound of 16Win (1-0)July 2, 2026AustriaRound of 32Win (3-0)June 27, 2026UruguayGroup StageWin (1-0)June 21, 2026Saudi ArabiaGroup StageWin (4-0)June 15, 2026Cabo VerdeGroup StageTie (0-0) Spain’s confidence also comes from recent history against France. La Roja defeated Les Bleus in the Euro 2024 semifinal and again in the 2025 UEFA Nations League semifinal, giving them belief that another victory is possible. What happens if France wins and Spain loses? A French victory would send Les Bleus into another World Cup final, where they would meet the winner of the Argentina vs England semifinal. Kylian Mbappe #10 of France celebrates with Dayot Upamecano #4 and Michael Olise #11. Spain would then be eliminated from title contention and move into the Third-Place Match. A place in the final would also continue France’s remarkable consistency at the highest level, adding another chapter to one of international soccer’s strongest modern eras. What happens if France and Spain are level after 90 minutes? Although the match could finish level after regulation, the semifinal itself cannot end in a draw. Kylian Mbappe #10 of France converts the penalty to score Instead, the teams would play 30 minutes of extra time, and if neither side finds a winner, the contest would be settled by a penalty shootout. Only after those stages would the World Cup bracket be completed, with one team advancing to th
Pedri has officially been named to the bench, and fans are absolutely buzzing and wondering why the brilliant Barcelona playmaker is absent from the starting lineup. The stage is set in Arlington for an absolute blockbuster 2026 World Cup semi-final between Spain and France, but La Roja will be kicking things off without one of their brightest stars. Pedri has officially been named to the bench, and fans are absolutely buzzing and wondering why the brilliant Barcelona playmaker is absent from the starting lineup. The semi-final brings together the tournament’s most prolific attack and one of its stingiest defenses, with France arriving after scoring 16 goals in six matches while Spain has conceded only once throughout the competition. The winner will advance to the 2026 World Cup Final, making every tactical decision even more significant. Les Bleus enter the match in outstanding form after winning all six of their matches, powered by an attack led by Kylian Mbappe, who has already scored eight goals in the tournament. Didier Deschamps’ side also benefits from the creativity of Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise, giving Les Bleus one of the deepest attacking units in international football. La Roja, on the other hand, approaches the contest from a different angle. Luis de la Fuente’s side has relied on disciplined defending, patient possession, and the influence of Rodri in midfield, while Lamine Yamal continues to provide creativity from the wing as La Roja chases another appearance in the World Cup final. DateCompetitionH2H ResultJune 5, 2025UEFA Nations League SemifinalSpain 5-4 FranceJuly 9, 2024UEFA Euro 2024 SemifinalSpain 2-1 FranceOctober 10, 2021UEFA Nations League FinalFrance 2-1 SpainMarch 28, 2017International FriendlyFrance 0-2 SpainSeptember 4, 2014International FriendlyFrance 1-0 Spain Why Pedri isn’t starting against France The biggest surprise from Spain‘s lineup is Pedri beginning on the bench for the second consecutive knockout match, but the decision is based on tactical considerations rather than injury. According to De la Fuente, Spain asks something different of the Barcelona midfielder than his club does. “Pedri can’t play for us the way he plays for Barca. Our style of play is different. We might have some similarities, but it’s different,” the Spain manager explained to El Larguero earlier. Pedri of Spain celebrates after scoring The coach expanded on that idea by explaining that the national team requires different qualities depending on the opponent and the midfield structure around Rodri. “Playing for Spain demands something different,” De la Fuente said, adding that the national team “has a different approach to football” than Barcelona. Fabian Ruiz earned another opportunity Fabian Ruiz’s outstanding display against Belgium played a decisive role in Spain’s selection. The Paris Saint-Germain midfielder replaced Pedri in the quarter-final, scored the opening goal in the 2-1 victory, and convinced the coaching staff to keep faith with the same midfield combination. Rather than making changes before one of the biggest matches of the tournament, Spain has chosen continuity, trusting the trio of Rodri, Fabian Ruiz, and Dani Olmo that successfully carried the team through the previous round. De la Fuente also admitted he sees value in both midfielders. “Each one has their strengths. Each player offers what we need… But they can also both play together. So if I have that doubt, we’ll put both in, and the problem is solved,” he joked with a smile before the match. 🚨 OFFICIAL | Our XI to face France The mission is clear.Let's earn our place in the World Cup Final. ❤️🇪🇸#VamosEspaña | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/DumUTDWLO8— Spanish Football (@SpainIsFootball) July 14, 2026 Pedri’s World Cup has lacked its usual influence Pedri has controlled possession well throughout the tournament, but he has yet to produce the decisive attacking contributions many expected. Entering the semi-final, he has not registered
France and Spain are facing off in one of the most competitive matches of the 2026 World Cup. Despite the significance of the game itself, much of the attention has been focused on the moment of silence that will be hold before kickoff. France and Spain are facing off in the semifinals of the 2026 World Cup. Battling for a place in the final, the match is expected to be highly competitive at Arlington Stadium, as both teams feature star-studded rosters. Despite the importance of the contest, much of the attention has centered on the announced minute of silence before kickoff. French President Emmanuel Macron revealed the reason behind the tribute. “Before France-Spain, a minute of silence will be observed in tribute to the victims of the Nice attack, 10 years after July 14, 2016. Thank you to the President of FIFA for responding to the request of France and of all French people who have mobilized. We will never forget,” France president Emmanuel Macron said yesterday as per Le Monde. Ten years after the tragedy in Nice, the French people continue to remember the event that claimed the lives of 86 people and left 400 others injured. After a public petition that gathered more than 10,000 signatures, FIFA decided to support the gesture and honor the memory of that tragic event. Although no player on the French national team has yet posted anything related to this tragedy, they have agreed to wear commemorative symbols during the match against Spain. If they secure a place in their third consecutive World Cup final, they may also make a commemorative gesture. So far, however, no official statement has been made by any of the team’s stars, including Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé. Kylian Mbappe of France shoots during the UEFA Nations League 2025. FIFA paid tribute with a minute of silence at its last two games Just as will happen in today’s match between France and Spain semifinal clash, FIFA observed a minute of silence in honor of Jayden Adams. Following his passing on July 11, 2026, the matches between Argentina vs Switzerland, and Norway vs England, also featured the same tribute before kickoff. “M99 (Norway-England) and M100 (Argentina-Switzerland): a minute of silence will be observed in both matches in memory of Jayden Adams, who unfortunately passed away at the age of 25. The South African midfielder made his FIFA World Cup debut during this tournament,” FIFA posted on its official website. While the two commemorations are unrelated, they share a clear message: Soccer can go beyond what happens on the pitch by making a social impact. In addition, FIFA has shown considerable flexibility when it comes to these kinds of tributes. As a result, the match between France and Spain will not only be significant from a sporting perspective but will also carry an emotional social backdrop.
Instead of just sharing the spotlight, the two superstars bring an unbelievable head-to-head record into this matchup that simply cannot be ignored. The 2026 World Cup has delivered an absolute dream semi-final at AT&T Stadium, where France and Spain will battle for a ticket to the final. At the heart of this heavyweight clash is the spectacular rivalry between Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal. Instead of just sharing the spotlight, the two superstars bring an unbelievable head-to-head record into this matchup that simply cannot be ignored. France enters the match hoping to reach a third consecutive World Cup final, while Spain looks to continue its rise after winning Euro 2024 and establish itself among soccer’s modern dynasties. At club level, Real Madrid and Barcelona have already witnessed plenty of battles between the two stars, but this meeting carries greater stakes than anything they have faced before. Mbappe remains France’s driving force France has enjoyed another impressive tournament under Didier Deschamps, who is leading the national team for the final time after 14 years in charge. Les Bleus have powered through the knockout rounds with victories over Sweden, Paraguay and Morocco, building momentum without appearing stretched to their limits. The attack has been the tournament’s biggest weapon. Mbappe has scored eight goals, sharing the lead in the Golden Boot race, while Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise, and the rest of the supporting cast have given France one of the most dangerous forward lines in the competition. Kylian Mbappe #10 of France However, a few players have enjoyed a World Cup career like Mbappe. The Real Madrid star already owns a World Cup winner’s medal from 2018, produced a memorable hat-trick in the 2022 final, and has become France’s all-time leading scorer. Tournament StatKylian MbappeLamine YamalMatches Played66Goals81Expected Goals (xG)5.391.51Shots per Game5.0 (3.2 on target)3.8 (1.7 on target)Accurate Passes per Game26.8 (87%)26.0 (83%)Top Speed35.3 km/h35.5 km/hAverage Sofascore Rating8.287.25 Yamal continues to grow into soccer’s next superstar Spain has reached the last four by combining defensive discipline with trademark possession soccer. The national team has conceded only one goal throughout the tournament, while producing knockout victories over Austria, Portugal and Belgium. Although Yamal has not matched Mbappe’s scoring numbers during this World Cup, the teenager remains Spain’s most exciting attacking talent. After overcoming a hamstring injury before the tournament, the Barcelona winger has gradually rediscovered his rhythm. Lamine Yamal of Spain The head-to-head record adds another layer to the rivalry While the semi-final is about two elite national teams, the individual duel between Mbappe and Yamal has developed into one of soccer’s most fascinating rivalries. Yamal has won eight of his previous 10 meetings with Mbappe for club and country, giving the Barcelona winger an 80 percent success rate against the France captain. Those victories include Euro 2024, the 2025 UEFA Nations League semi-final, multiple El Clasicos, the Copa del Rey final, and the Spanish Super Cup. Season / TournamentMatchResult (Winner)Mbappe ContributionsYamal Contributions2023–24 Champions League (QF)PSG vs Barcelona2-3 (Yamal)––2023–24 Champions League (QF)Barcelona vs PSG1-4 (Mbappe)2 Goals1 AssistEuro 2024 (Semi-final)Spain vs France2-1 (Yamal)1 Assist1 Goal2024–25 La LigaReal Madrid vs Barcelona0-4 (Yamal)–1 Goal2025 Supercopa de España (Final)Real Madrid vs Barcelona2-5 (Yamal)1 Goal2 Goals2024–25 Copa del Rey (Final)Barcelona vs Real Madrid3-2 (Yamal)1 Goal2 Assists2024–25 La LigaBarcelona vs Real Madrid4-3 (Yamal)3 Goals1 Goal2025 Nations League (Semi-final)Spain vs France5-4 (Yamal)1 Goal2 Goals2025–26 La LigaReal Madrid vs Barcelona2-1 (Mbappe)1 Goal–2026 Supercopa de España (Final)FC Barcelona vs Real Madrid3-2 (Yamal)–– Mbappe has enjoyed memorable individual performances during those encou
After shining against Belgium, Spain secured their place in the 2026 World Cup semifinals, where they will face France. Ahead of the match, young defender Pau Cubarsí revealed that he is not afraid of facing Kylian Mbappé, while analyzing their upcoming showdown. Spain have remained highly competitive throughout the 2026 World Cup, conceding just one goal in the entire tournament. After their recent victory over Belgium, they secured a place in the semifinals, where they will face France. While many fans have serious doubts about their chances of winning the matchup, Pau Cubarsí revealed that he is not afraid of facing Kylian Mbappé, while analyzing their upcoming encounter. Despite being only 19 years old, Pau Cubarsi already has considerable experience at the top level in Europe. Showing confidence in his talent, he remains confident ahead of his matchup against Kylian Mbappé. “Not scare us, no, but everyone knows the qualities he has. Even if he’s not involved in the game, he can change it with one quick play. He’s unique, just like Lamine. We have to stay alert for the full 90 minutes,“ he said in an interview with Diario AS. Throughout the 2026 World Cup, Cubarsí has remained an undisputed starter for head coach Luis de la Fuente. While Pedri, Lamine, and others have received the praise, the young defender has been key to stopping opponents’ progressions and preventing the team from conceding many goals. Moreover, he has already faced Mbappé on several occasions, proving that it is not impossible to stop his goalscoring progression. Kylian Mbappé is in outstanding goalscoring form, having scored eight goals in six matches, making him the tournament’s top scorer alongside Lionel Messi. With that in mind, Pau Cubarsí faces the toughest challenge of the tournament: Stopping his outstanding form. As Mbappé is a very physical striker, the young defender will need a collective strategy, as Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise, and Désiré Doué also pose a clear threat in France. Kylian Mbappe of France shoots during the UEFA Nations League 2025. Spain hold the edge over France in recent encounters France have established one of the most competitive sporting projects in the world. Head coach Didier Deschamps has opted for a deep attacking unit, something similar to Luis Enrique’s PSG. Even though they have dominated soccer in recent years, Spain have been one of the few national teams capable of competing with them. In their most recent meetings, Spain have come out on top. The last meeting between Spain and France took place on June 5, 2025, in the UEFA Nations League. There, Luis de la Fuente’s team secured a 5-4 victory, advancing to the tournament final. Before that match, they had faced each other in the semifinals of UEFA Euro 2024, where Spain also defeated France and went on to win the tournament. With that in mind, Pau Cubarsí has one thing clear: they already know how to beat France, so there is no fear.
After Norway's World Cup elimination against England, Elring Haaland's father Alfie hit out at the referee Clement Turpin. Erling Haaland‘s 2026 World Cup run came to an end in the quarterfinals as England secured their place in the semifinals. In the heated aftermath of a controversy-filled match, the Manchester City striker’s father, Alfie Haaland, directed his frustration squarely at the referee over Norway‘s eliminatio. As the elimination sank in, Alfie Haaland, who was in the stands at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his displeasure. Responding to a Fabrizio Romano post highlighting Jude Bellingham‘s match-winning brace, he kept it short and pointed: “Well done Bellingham and referee.” He followed that up by responding to a post from journalist Henry Winter, going further with his criticism. “Saved by the referee. Hope you win the WC now. But feel we got robbed today,” he wrote, making clear his belief that referee Clement Turpin had played a significant role in Norway’s elimination. Well done Bellingham and referee.— Alfie Haaland (@alfiehaaland) July 11, 2026 The controversies of England vs Norway Andreas Schjelderup gave Norway the lead in the 36th minute, but Jude Bellingham had other ideas, equalizing in the 47th minute before completing the comeback with a goal in the 93rd minute of extra time to send England through. The World Cup match was far from free of controversy, however. Turpin disallowed a Norway goal from Torbjorn Heggem in the 57th minute, with the score still level at 1-1, ruling that Haaland had fouled Elliot Anderson off the ball, ordering the corner to be retaken. A second flashpoint emerged after the final whistle, with questions raised over whether the ball had struck an overhead wire in the buildup to Bellingham’s equalizer. FIFA issued a statement confirming that the ball’s contact sensor registered no impact with the wire, but Norway’s camp remained unconvinced by the explanation. At his post-match press conference, head coach Ståle Solbakken relayed what his players had told him about the incident: “I can’t say anything about that because FIFA. If there’s no been no sound or there has been no (reading) in the chip, what can I say against that? But the ball drops down straight from heaven says everyone, including Orjan (Nyland), who is the goalie, including the guy who is going to receive the ball. I saw another way just then, so I wonder also what happened. I think it’s pretty clear that it did and it was a strange thing.“
Despite the victory over Norway, Thomas Tuchel decided to be self-critical of his team's performances. In response, Jude Bellingham reacted emphatically, sparking controversy. As a result, the head coach decided to clarify his statements while maintaining his stance. While they arrived as a top contenders, England struggled to defeat Norway, needing extra time to secure the victory. Acknowledging the problems his team has been dealing with, Thomas Tuchel was highly self-critical. Jude Bellingham responded emphatically, making his frustration clear. As a result, the head coach later clarified his statements, maintaining his perspective while trying to soften his tone. Despite their victory over Norway, Thomas Tuchel revealed that he was not happy with his team performances, denoting that there are aspects to work on. “The result is fantastic, being in the last four is amazing, but not happy with the performance… we made life very, very difficult with the way we played, sloppy, a lot of technical mistakes, not fast enough, not repetitive enough,” he said in the post-game interview. Unlike Tuchel, Bellingham made it clear that he was proud of England’s overall performance. When asked about Tuchel’s criticism, he replied: “Maybe he doesn’t know what it’s like to play in those kind of conditions against Erling Haaland, [Martin] Ødegaard, [Antonio] Nusa, [Alexander] Sørloth. That’s not an easy team to play against,” he said in the post-game interview. In an effort to avoid controversy and tension in the locker room, head coach Thomas Tuchel decided to clarify his comments. “I am impressed with the shift that they put in, the effort, the belief…but I am also soccer coach. I think that we can play better. In general, I think it was not a high- level game. I think that we had better games… I am not saying that we are lucky to win, but we are lucky in decisive moments,” he said in today’s press conference. Harry Kane #9 of England celebrates with teammates Declan Rice #4 and Anthony Gordon #18. Tuchel’s approach has England hopeful for World Cup semifinal Far from regretting his comments, Thomas Tuchel made it clear that England need to improve their performances while also emphasizing how proud he is of his team’s commitment. As a result, the fans remain hopeful, as the team’s displays have disappointed many. Facing a top contender like Argentina, England need to regain control of matches with a clear tactical identity that does not rely on individual performances. With a roster full of talent, England have struggled to win every knockout-stage match. Without imposing a dominant style of play, they have suffered defensively, conceding four goals in their last three matches. If they want to reach the 2026 World Cup final, they need to control the midfield, as that would significantly limit Argentina. Tuchel’s team need to be efficient on the counterattack, taking advantage of Argentina’s defensive issues. That is why Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka need to be at their best and improve their goalscoring and creative impact. Pushing for tactical adjustments and a better performance on the pitch, England are aiming to reach the final under the high standards of Thomas Tuchel, who is striving to get as close to perfection as possible.
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