Ou est Mbappe?

France - Spain 0-2

Oh my, didn't the bookies sleep well tonight?

I got no explanation for this game. Reminds me a bit - though that memory has long ben repressed, it's just the feeling that survives - of Barcelona beating a seamingly unstoppable Manchester United in the 2009 Champions League final.

How did it happen? We all saw it, none can explain it. Mbappe, Dembele, Olise, they were all on the pitch, yet none showed up. If I were to throw my mind back even further, to the 1989 Champions League final, I'd wonder - like we all wondered after the AC Milan's hammering of Steaua, if the players have been drugged or something.

The truth is, you don't have to be glamorous to be efficient. I also think the French had an off day, but if you're having an off day, make sure it's not the World Cup semi-final.

Was there a penalty for the first goal? I would not have given it. Digne's leg movement had started before Yamal attacked the ball, so the hit did not look to be intentional. I'm not even sure it would be a foul if it happened in midfield. Also true that it was a solid hit, fully into Yamal's leg. So I don't know. Once again, I'd like games to be decided by players rather than refs, but what do I know?

Whether it was or it wasn't a penalty is immaterial though, not because Spain scored another one, but because France never really looked like being in the game. Funnily enough, the stats tell a different story. France, having more shots on target? When? The half-arsed effort by Dembele deep into injury time, when it wouldn't have mattered anyway?

xG seems to be the most accurate description of the game, a stat I made fun of many times in the past. It's 0.31 to 1.63 for Spain. 

A lot of things I made fun of in the past are coming back to bite me in the ass. So I'll be cheering our boys tonight against Argentina along with the rest of the country.

Is this Spanish team as good as the 2010 one? I'd say certainly not. But they're incredibly well organized, disciplined in defence and relentless attacking, not losing heart until it's done. Went through R16 and Quarters with injury time winners. They have Lamine Yamal, who did not shine as bright as the other stars of the tournament so far, but he's still in it. And sometimes you don't have to score 8 goals, you have to score one when it matters. And Nico Williams has been playing more in recent games, maybe in time for him to be fully fit for the final.

I kind of want Spain to win now. Words I'd never thought I'd say.