ARLINGTON: France and its lethal attack led by Kylian Mbappe will attempt to reach a third consecutive World Cup final on Tuesday when they take on a Spain team that combines flair and defensive steel.
More than a month after the expanded 48-team tournament kicked off, the first semifinal at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, promises to be a tantalizing spectacle.
France coach Didier Deschamps insisted on Monday that European champions Spain would be favourites, despite his own team’s dazzling performances.
“They attack well, they defend well, they don’t concede goals. It could be a spectacular match,” he said.
France have reached the last two World Cup finals, winning in 2018 in Russia and losing on penalties to Lionel Messi’s Argentina four years ago in Qatar in an epic final despite a Mbappé hat-trick.
Many observers believe Spain, who have gained momentum during the tournament, have the qualities to win a second title – but they must first stop France’s star-studded front line.
Real Madrid striker Mbappe, 27, has scored eight goals to lead the race for the Golden Boot alongside Messi.
Mbappe boasts an impressive supporting cast, including Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise.
AFP has learned that France will start speedy winger Bradley Barcola in place of Paris Saint-Germain teammate Desire Doue on the left side of the attack.
Deschamps chose Barcola for his speed in an area of the pitch where he will face Spanish star Lamine Yamal.
Losing to Argentina in the final in Doha four years ago was a bitter experience for France, and the desire for revenge is strong – if Messi can lead his team past England in their semi-final in Atlanta on Wednesday.
Adding to France’s motivation, French coach Didier Deschamps, part of an elite group to have won the World Cup as a player and coach, is leaving the tournament after 14 years in charge.
“Front foot”
With Yamal, who celebrated his 19th birthday on Monday by purchasing a jewel-encrusted necklace, Spain has the player who will likely succeed Messi and Mbappé as football’s next superstar.
The Barcelona forward has steadily improved and won player of the match in the 2-1 quarter-final win over Belgium.
The teenager stressed that Spain had the upper hand over France, having beaten them 2-1 in a Euro 2024 semi-final and in a 2025 Nations League semi-final which ended 5-4.
His ideal birthday present, he insisted, would be a place in the World Cup final on Sunday.
“The best gift would be a victory on Tuesday and a trip to New York,” he said.
With Yamal’s offensive guile and Mikel Merino’s goal, Spain’s run to the semi-final was built on a rock-solid defense led by Frenchman Aymeric Laporte.
Belgium’s goal in the quarterfinal was the first Spain had conceded in the entire tournament.
Coach Luis de la Fuente, whose team plays a possession-based style, said his side would be “front-footed” against the French.
“We will have to think about their players. We will try to win these duels and we will try to be at the forefront during the match, imposing our style,” he said.
The winning team will face either England or Argentina, who will face off in the latest chapter of one of football’s most fascinating rivalries.
The history of matches between the nations is strewn with incidents, against the backdrop of an ongoing sovereignty dispute over the Falkland Islands, known in Spanish as Malvinas, in the South Atlantic Ocean.
The encounter comes 40 years after Diego Maradona’s infamous “Hand of God” goal helped lead Argentina to a 2-1 victory at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.
England captain Harry Kane, who faces Messi and Mbappe for the Golden Boot, said his team would not be distracted by the emotional baggage surrounding the match.
“From a player’s point of view, it’s us against a great team, who’s smart, who’s tactical, who knows how to buy fouls, knows how to slow the game down – like a lot of different teams you face throughout your career,” he said.
