Spain reached the World Cup final after outwitting France once more in a semi-final in Dallas, according to the Guardian’s Sid Lowe. The pivotal moment came from an unlikely source: right-back Pedro Porro, a player deployed primarily to defend rather than to attack.

Porro had been tasked with shackling France’s forward line, described by the Guardian as a fearsome quartet that includes Kylian Mbappé. Yet it was Porro, not the celebrated French attackers, who delivered the decisive blow of the match.

The goal arrived when Porro burst into the penalty area onto a layoff from Dani Olmo. He steadied himself and guided the ball into the net to make it 2-0, with still half an hour left to play. According to the report, both teams sensed the tie was effectively settled at that point.

Porro celebrated by kissing the badge and racing to the corner, where his teammates streamed across the pitch and off the bench to join him. The Guardian framed the finish as a moment of instinct taking over from a defender expected to focus on protecting his side.

The article recalled a line Porro once used about himself: “Let me loose in a prison and I’ll end up owning the place.” On this occasion, the Guardian noted, he made the penalty area his own, sealing Spain’s progress to the final.

The victory continues Spain’s recent record of getting the better of France in major fixtures, with Sid Lowe writing that Spain “outwit France once more” to secure their place in the showpiece.