Didier Deschamps, the French head coach, stated on Monday that he considers Spain the team to beat heading into Tuesday’s World Cup semi-final at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Despite France’s impressive tournament run, Deschamps insists his squad remains the underdog, noting Spain’s dominant defensive record and consistency since their initial group stage draw with Cape Verde.
Luis de la Fuente, the Spanish manager, dismissed the favorite label as irrelevant when addressed during a press conference. He emphasized that the pressure to perform for their nation exists regardless of external expectations. Both coaches acknowledged the high offensive quality present on both rosters, with Deschamps predicting a highly entertaining match.
Regarding the threat of Spanish winger Lamine Yamal, Deschamps acknowledged his talent but remained confident in his own team’s ability to defend and counter. Furthermore, the French coach confirmed that team captain Kylian Mbappe has fully recovered from a recent injury and is ready to compete in Tuesday’s contest.
