India, July 15 -- When the World Cup began a month ago, France and Spain were widely tipped as the tournament favourites, with most prediction models rating them above even defending champions Argentina. By the time the two modern-day European rivals met in Dallas for a third successive summer in a major tournament, France had edged ahead in the bookmakers' odds, not just to win the semifinal but also to lift the trophy. The reason was obvious. Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise and Bradley Barcola had ripped through opponents with pace, movement and individual brilliance.

Yet Spain, who quietly went about their business after an opening draw against Cape Verde, made that terrifying French attack look remarkably ordinary.

It ...