Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

A general view of the Dallas Stadium in Arlington on July 12, 2026, ahead of the 2026 World Cup football tournament semi-final match between France and Spain on July 14.  (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)

Article (news)

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1783902382458Screen Shot 2026-07-13 at 8.26.09 AM.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">A general view of the Dallas Stadium in Arlington on July 12, 2026, ahead of the 2026 World Cup football tournament semi-final match between France and Spain on July 14. <em>Photo by Franck Fife/AFP</em></span></span></span></div><p>DALLAS, United States — Spain will attempt to neutralize one of the most potent attacking arsenals in World Cup history on Tuesday when they take on France in a heavyweight semi-final showdown.</p><p>The reigning European champions and Didier Deschamps&#x27; French team face off at the AT&amp;T Stadium in Arlington, Texas in what is seen by many as a &#x27;final before the final&#x27; featuring the two best sides left in the tournament.</p><p>In the blue corner are France, who have progressed serenely to the last four on the back of a multi-pronged strike-force spearheaded by captain Kylian Mbappe -- he has scored eight goals in six games.</p><p>Mbappe&#x27;s supporting cast includes Bayern Munich star Michael Olise, Ballon D&#x27;Or winner Ousmane Dembele and Paris Saint-Germain duo Bradley Barcola and Desire Doue.</p><p>In the red corner, Spain, who have calmly worked their way into the semi-finals with their brand of possession-based, relentless football that has become their trademark under Luis de la Fuente.</p><p>While individual brilliance has lit up France&#x27;s campaign, Spain have relied on collective menace -- a well-oiled machine founded on the silky passing of midfielders such as Rodri, Pedri and Fabian Ruiz, providing ammunition for teenage winger Lamine Yamal.</p><p>It all adds up to a classic clash of styles that will see Spain attempt to sever the supply lines to Mbappe and company by controlling possession, while simultaneously seeking to put pressure on a France defense that has yet to be seriously tested.</p><p>While that may be easier said than done, Spain will take encouragement from their recent record against France.</p><p>La Roja defeated France 5-4 in a high-scoring UEFA Nations League thriller last year, and also scored a 2-1 semi-final win en route to victory at the European Championship in 2024.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>NOTHING TO FEAR </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Yamal, who will go into Tuesday&#x27;s blockbuster just a day after turning 19, says Spain have nothing to fear.</p><p>&quot;Obviously we are two great teams, among the best in the world. We&#x27;ll see what happens, but we have no fear,&quot; Yamal said after Spain&#x27;s 2-1 quarter-final defeat of Belgium in Los Angeles on Friday.</p><p>&quot;There are two possibilities -- either they reach three consecutive World Cup finals, or we beat them three times in a row. We&#x27;ll see what happens. We aren&#x27;t afraid at all.&quot;</p><p>Spain coach De la Fuente echoed Yamal&#x27;s message of &quot;no fear&quot;.</p><p>&quot;The French are in great form, and we have different playing styles,&quot; De la Fuente said. &quot;We have the greatest respect for our opponents, but we feel capable of beating any team.</p><p>&quot;We&#x27;re aware of their immense potential, but we also know that we&#x27;re the only team to have beaten them in two semi-finals.&quot;</p><p>France, meanwhile, will expect their gilded attacking line-up to pose questions of a steely Spanish defense that only conceded its first goal of the tournament in Friday&#x27;s win against the Belgians.</p><p>There is also a tangible sense of purpose driving a united French squad towards a second World Cup title in three tournaments under Deschamps, who will step down at the end of the finals.</p><p>France&#x27;s arrival in the last four makes them only the third nation to reach three consecutive World Cup semi-finals after Germany (1982-90 and 2002-14) and Brazil (1994, 1998, 2002).</p><p>Deschamps modestly plays down his own role in transforming France into the superpower of modern international football as they aim for a third straight final appearance.</p><p>&quot;I don&#x27;t know, having very good players I guess. But I can&#x27;t be doing my job too badly,&quot; Deschamps said last week when asked for the secret to his success.</p><p>&quot;It is a human adventure and even though I chose the players, to be with this squad every day is very important,&quot; Deschamps added.</p><p>&quot;I am very happy on a personal level and also happy to see them enjoying themselves so much.&quot;</p><p>That sense of affection is reciprocated by France&#x27;s players, illustrated most clearly when Mbappe celebrated scoring a goal against Sweden by sprinting to the sideline to embrace Deschamps, who had just rejoined the team after returning to France following the death of his mother.</p><p>&quot;It is in this squad&#x27;s DNA to all be together and behind the coach, whatever happens,&quot; said Mbappe.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div><div><strong><br/></strong></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kjnE92PDi5E?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_sfdlSkYsBI?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Spain will attempt to neutralize one of the most potent attacking arsenals in World Cup history on Tuesday when they take on France in a heavyweight semi-final showdown.</p>

Spain will attempt to neutralize one of the most potent attacking arsenals in World Cup history on Tuesday when they take on France in a heavyweight semi-final showdown.

'Final before final': France face Spain in World Cup blockbuster

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'Final before final': France face Spain in World Cup blockbuster

Rob Woollard,

Agence France-Presse

Published July 13, 2026 08:27 AM PHT

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