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Mbappé scoreless, Saliba injured as France trails Spain 1-0 at halftime
🇰🇷 South Korea /Sports

Mbappé scoreless, Saliba injured as France trails Spain 1-0 at halftime

From Chosun Ilbo · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Kylian Mbappé was effectively neutralized, failing to register a single shot in the first half as France trailed Spain 1-0 in a World Cup semifinal.
  • Spain took the lead in the 22nd minute with a penalty kick converted by Mikel Oyarzabal.
  • France, ranked No. 1 in FIFA, faced challenges early in the match, compounded by a reported injury to defender William Saliba.

France, the top-ranked team in FIFA, found themselves trailing Spain 1-0 at halftime in a crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinal match held at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The French offense struggled significantly in the first half, with star forward Kylian Mbappé being completely shut down, registering zero shots.

Spain opened the scoring in the 22nd minute when Mikel Oyarzabal successfully converted a penalty kick, giving the higher-ranked Spanish side the lead. The French team, usually known for its potent attack, appeared disorganized and unable to break through Spain's defense.

Adding to France's difficulties, reports indicated that defender William Saliba sustained an injury during the first half, further disrupting the team's structure and options. The combination of Mbappé's ineffectiveness and Saliba's potential injury presented significant challenges for France as they headed into the second half, needing to find a way back into the game against a strong Spanish side.

DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Chosun Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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