Spain’s 2-0 victory over France in the World Cup semifinals was more than a tactical masterclass; it was a statistical earthquake that redrew the balance of power in international football.

Goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro sent Spain into only their second World Cup final, and first since their 2010 triumph. They will face either England or Argentina, but the numbers already underline that this Spanish side is operating at historic levels.

Spain have now gone 10 straight World Cup knockout matches without defeat, a run stretching back to 2006. Across all competitions, they are unbeaten in 37 games, matching the longest streak ever recorded by a European men’s national team, previously held by Italy.

Their dominance in this tournament has been built on defensive perfection. Spain became the first team in World Cup history to win six matches in a single edition without conceding a goal. Goalkeeper Unai Simón’s six clean sheets are a standalone World Cup record for an individual keeper.

France, by contrast, produced one of their most anaemic attacking displays in decades. Their expected goals total of 0.30 was their lowest in a World Cup match in 60 years, ending a 10-game scoring streak in the competition and snapping a six-match World Cup winning run. The 2-0 defeat was their heaviest knockout loss since 1986.

Spain’s attack has been just as historic. Oyarzabal became only the third Spanish man to score at least five goals in a single World Cup, joining David Villa and Emilio Butragueño, and moved to sixth on Spain’s all-time scoring list. Dani Olmo’s eighth assist at major tournaments tied Cesc Fàbregas’ national record, while Porro joined a select group of defenders with multiple knockout goals in one World Cup.

Yet the subplot gripping the sport is the emerging dominance of Lamine Yamal over Kylian Mbappé. Since Mbappé joined Real Madrid, he has lost all six knockout meetings against teams led by Yamal, for club and country. Yamal, just 19 years and one day old, also became the second-youngest player in six decades to win a penalty in a World Cup knockout match.

On the numbers, this semifinal was more than Spain 2-0 France. It was Yamal 6-0 Mbappé, and a night when Spain and Simón carved their names into World Cup history.