By Bilal Ahmed
France are preparing for their World Cup semi-final match against Spain, with defenders Ibrahima Konate and Maxence Lacroix acknowledging the quality of their opponents. The match, scheduled for Tuesday in Dallas, features two of Europe’s highest-ranked teams and is anticipated by many fans.
Konate stated that France does not fear Spain but respects their capabilities. He emphasised the need for thorough preparation to secure a favourable outcome. Lacroix echoed this sentiment, noting Spain’s strong performance in the tournament, having won all their matches except for a draw against Cape Verde in the group stage.
France’s approach to the semi-final
France, who were winners in 2018 and finalists four years ago, are familiar with Spain, having lost to them in the Euro 2024 last four and the Nations League semi-finals last year. Despite being considered tournament favourites, Konate stressed the importance of humility, stating that the team would not fall into the trap of overconfidence.
The French defence will need to find a way to penetrate Spain’s effective backline, which has conceded only one goal throughout the tournament. They also aim to contain the runs of Spain’s winger, Lamine Yamal, who has been praised for his ability to create space for teammates.
Lacroix highlighted Yamal as a very good player who has demonstrated his ability to challenge teams in this World Cup. He affirmed that France would undertake the necessary defensive work to counter Yamal’s threat.
Key players and historical matchups
The semi-final will feature a notable matchup between France’s Kylian Mbappe and Spain’s Lamine Yamal. Both players have faced each other in La Liga’s El Clasico, but this World Cup stage presents a significantly larger prize.
Historically, France and Spain have met 38 times, with Spain holding the advantage with 18 victories compared to France’s 13 wins, and seven matches ending in a draw. Their most recent encounter was in the 2025 UEFA Nations League semi-finals, where Spain defeated France 5-4. In the 2024 UEFA Euro semi-finals, Spain also beat France 2-1.
The two nations have only met once in a FIFA World Cup, which was in the 2006 edition, where France secured a 3-1 victory in the last-16 stage. At the European Championships, they have met five times, with both teams winning two matches each and one draw.
Team strengths and venue details
France’s strength lies in their potent attack, spearheaded by Mbappe, who leads the Golden Boot race with eight goals and three assists. Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise have also been dynamic in attack. While France showed some defensive vulnerabilities in the group stage, they have maintained clean sheets in all three knockout matches.
Spain’s primary strength is their robust defence, having conceded only one goal in five matches, which occurred against Belgium in the quarter-finals. Their attack, however, has at times appeared sluggish, with substitute Mikel Merino scoring late goals to secure victories in their last two knockout contests. Mikel Oyarzabal is Spain’s leading scorer in the tournament with four goals.
The semi-final match will be held at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas, which has a capacity of 70,649 for this tournament. This venue is hosting its last of nine match days in this year’s World Cup.
As of Sunday, Opta’s supercomputer gives France a 42.1 percent probability of winning in regulation time, while Spain’s chances are 31.8 percent, with a 26.1 percent probability of the game going to extra time.
Spain’s head coach, Luis de la Fuente, highlighted his squad’s depth and unity, crediting their collective strength for their success. He expressed confidence in his team’s ability to perform against France as they pursue the World Cup title.
The semi-final clash is scheduled for Tuesday.
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Source: dawn.com
