The World Cup 2026 semi-final between France and Spain in Dallas on Tuesday is anticipated to be a “spectacular” encounter, according to France manager Didier Deschamps. This match follows previous high-stakes meetings between the two European football giants.
Spain previously defeated France in the semi-finals of Euro 2024, where they went on to become European champions. They also secured a victory against Les Bleus in a Nations League last-four match last year.
Deschamps, who is set to step down after the tournament following 14 years in charge, stated that “the past is in the past.” He added, “They [Spain] did win in the past but I am looking forward to tomorrow. We are now at another level. We want to be in the final.”
France’s pursuit of history
France, two-time world champions, are aiming to become only the third nation to reach three consecutive World Cup finals. The match is scheduled for an 20:00 BST kick-off in Texas. Only West Germany (1982, 1986, 1990) and Brazil (1994, 1998, 2002) have achieved this feat before.
Deschamps, who captained France to a world title in 1998 and managed them to victory in 2018, saw his team lose to Argentina on penalties in the 2022 final in Qatar. He considers Spain to be the favourites for the upcoming semi-final, noting their defensive record of conceding only one goal in six games.
“We know this could be a most spectacular game,” Deschamps said. He believes that with the offensive quality of both teams, the match will be exciting, despite both managers’ knowledge of defensive strategies.
Spain manager Luis de la Fuente, however, downplayed the favourite tag. He stated that it does not add further pressure, as both are great national teams facing each other, and the desire to perform well for their country already provides motivation.
De la Fuente referenced a quote from Roman general Julius Caesar, saying, “Julius Caesar always said that you can’t win without suffering. I agree with that.” He emphasised the need to prepare for suffering to achieve significant goals.
Player readiness and team dynamics
France midfielder Warren Zaïre-Emery expressed his team’s desire for revenge against Spain for their Euro 2024 semi-final exit. He stated, “We have a different team, to my mind. We are ready. We want to win against Spain and get our revenge for the Euros. We’re going to have to be focused.”
Zaïre-Emery, who made his major tournament debut in France’s quarter-final victory over Morocco, also commented on the diverse backgrounds within the French team, highlighting their unity.
Regarding team selection, Deschamps might consider bringing Aurélien Tchouaméni into the lineup if the Real Madrid player is deemed fit after a muscle injury. Tchouaméni has missed the last two matches but is now available for selection.
Concerns about Kylian Mbappé’s fitness were addressed by Deschamps, who confirmed that Mbappé trained despite an ankle knock sustained against Morocco. Mbappé, who has scored eight goals and assisted three in the tournament, could surpass Lionel Messi’s eight goals in the race for the Golden Boot if he scores against Spain.
De la Fuente acknowledged France’s strong players, including Mbappé, Ousmane Dembele, and Michael Olise, stating that his team will need to win their battles and maintain their style. He anticipates an extremely demanding match.
Deschamps reiterated his view that Spain are favourites, noting their consistent performance since their first game against Cape Verde. However, he clarified that he does not intend to add extra pressure to Luis de la Fuente and his team.
Despite Zaïre-Emery’s comments on revenge, Deschamps downplayed the idea, stating, “There’s no revenge, the past is in the past. I’m focused on tomorrow’s match.” He acknowledged that if it motivates the players, that is beneficial, but emphasised the significance of a World Cup semi-final.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 20:00 BST.
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Source: bbc.com
As News-GB.org's Sports Reporter, Eleanor Vance reports on tennis, cricket and athletics for readers across the country. She built her name on long-form athlete profiles. She holds a degree in Sport and Media from the University of Bath and completed an NCTJ diploma. Eleanor lives in Bath, where she swims competitively and follows British athletics. “A profile is only as good as the questions behind it.”