France and Spain prepare for Dallas showdown

By Sanjay Menon — 14 July 2026 — 3 min read

France and Spain prepare for Dallas showdown

France and Spain are set to face each other in a World Cup semi-final in Dallas on Tuesday. Didier Deschamps, the France coach, anticipates a “spectacular” match. This fixture follows previous encounters, including Spain’s victory over France in Euro 2024 and a high-scoring Nations League semi-final last year.

Deschamps, who is concluding his 14-year tenure with France at the end of the tournament, stated that past results are not relevant for the upcoming game. He expressed confidence in his team’s current level, aiming for a place in the final. France, two-time world champions, could become the third nation to reach three consecutive World Cup finals if they secure a win in Texas. Only West Germany (1982, 1986, 1990) and Brazil (1994, 1998, 2002) have achieved this feat.

Deschamps led France to World Cup victory in 2018 and captained the team to the world title in 1998. He also guided them to the 2022 final, where they were defeated by Argentina on penalties. Despite his team’s strong form, Deschamps suggested that Spain would be the favourites for the semi-final, noting their defensive record of conceding only one goal in six games.

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente downplayed the favourite tag, emphasizing that both are strong national teams. He acknowledged the inherent pressure to perform well for their country. De la Fuente also referenced a quote from Roman general Julius Caesar, stating that “you can’t win without suffering,” indicating a belief in enduring challenges to achieve significant goals.

Key players to watch in the semi-final

The semi-final will feature several prominent players from both squads. For France, captain Kylian Mbappe has been in exceptional form, scoring eight goals and providing three assists in the tournament. He has scored in every knockout round so far and is a significant attacking threat. If he scores against Spain, he will surpass Lionel Messi’s goal tally in the race for the Golden Boot.

Another key player for France is Michael Olise, who has recorded five assists in the tournament, despite not scoring himself. His partnership with Mbappe has been a notable aspect of France’s offensive play. Ousmane Dembele has also been impactful, scoring five goals and providing two assists. He achieved a hat-trick against Norway and scored in France’s 2-0 quarter-final win over Morocco. Mbappe and Dembele have collectively scored 13 goals in this World Cup, a scoring partnership not seen from players of the same country since Brazil’s Ronaldo and Rivaldo in 2002.

For Spain, Lamine Yamal, at 18 years old, is a crucial attacking player. He has scored one goal in the tournament, during a 4-0 group stage win against Saudi Arabia. Yamal also scored against France in the Euro 2024 semi-finals and was named player of the match in Spain’s quarter-final victory over Belgium. He has also registered the most successful dribbles in the tournament.

Mikel Oyarzabal is Spain’s leading scorer in this World Cup with four goals. He has a history of scoring important goals, including an 86th-minute winner against England in the Euro 2024 final. Midfielder Mikel Merino has also proven to be a valuable asset for Spain, scoring two goals as a substitute, including late winners against Portugal and Belgium.

Source: bbc.com