France and Spain prepare for World Cup semi-final
The World Cup 2026 semi-final in Dallas will feature a highly anticipated match between France and Spain. France’s manager, Didier Deschamps, has stated that Spain are the favourites to advance to the final, despite his team topping the world rankings and winning all their matches in the tournament so far. Spain previously defeated France in the semi-finals of Euro 2024 and in last year’s Nations League.
Deschamps maintained his position on Spain being the likeliest winners, acknowledging their strong performance after an initial draw against Cape Verde. He highlighted Spain’s ability to attack and defend effectively, noting they have conceded only one goal. Deschamps anticipates a spectacular game given the offensive quality of both teams.
France’s captain, Kylian Mbappe, who has scored eight goals in this World Cup, trained ahead of the semi-final after putting ice on his ankle following the quarter-final win over Morocco. Deschamps confirmed Mbappe was fine and had no concerns about his captain’s fitness.
In midfield, Deschamps faces a selection decision as Aurelien Tchouameni is fit again after a groin problem. The Real Madrid player was a substitute against Morocco, but Deschamps considered it too risky to play him then. Tchouameni is now available, though Deschamps noted he is not 100 percent cured, having last played two weeks prior.
Key players to watch
Both European giants boast star players expected to play crucial roles in securing a spot in Sunday’s final. For France, Kylian Mbappe has been in remarkable form, scoring eight goals and providing three assists in 563 minutes played. The forward has scored in every knockout round so far and is a significant attacking threat for Les Bleus.
Another key player for France is Michael Olise, who has recorded five assists in 488 minutes. While he has not scored, Olise’s ability to unlock defences and his partnership with Mbappe have been a highlight of the tournament. Ousmane Dembele, with five goals and two assists in 492 minutes, has also been prolific, scoring a hat-trick in a group game against Norway and a goal in France’s win over Morocco.
For Spain, Lamine Yamal, at 18 years old, is a key attacking threat. He has one goal in 405 minutes played, scored against Saudi Arabia, and also found the net against France in the Euro 2024 semi-finals. Yamal was named player of the match in Spain’s quarter-final victory over Belgium and has recorded the most successful dribbles in the tournament. He noted his movements draw in opponents, helping the team even when he doesn’t score.
Mikel Oyarzabal is Spain’s top scorer in this World Cup, with four goals and one assist in 519 minutes. The forward scored six goals during World Cup qualification and has continued his scoring form in the tournament proper. Oyarzabal has a history of scoring crucial goals, including an 86th-minute winner against England in the Euro 2024 final.
Midfielder Mikel Merino, with two goals in 180 minutes, has proven to be a valuable option off the bench for Spain. He has scored late winners against Portugal and Belgium. Merino is unlikely to start against France but remains an important part of Spain’s squad, posing a threat against tired legs later in the match.
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Source: independent.co.uk
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Joel Kavanagh is a Sports News Writer at News-GB. He started on a Midlands sports desk. He focuses on rugby union, golf and boxing and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Journalism from De Montfort University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Leicester, he plays amateur rugby and follows the fight calendar. “In sport news, the first ten minutes decide everything.”