Didier Deschamps has described Spain as favourites ahead of their World Cup semi-final, even as he insisted France are ready to reach a third consecutive final. The outgoing France boss, who is stepping down after 14 years in charge at the end of the tournament, said he is focused solely on what lies ahead. “The past is in the past,” he said. “They did win in the past but I am looking forward to tomorrow. We are now at another level. We want to be in the final.”
Victory in Texas, where kick-off is scheduled for 20:00 BST, would make France only the third country to reach three straight World Cup finals. West Germany achieved the feat across 1982, 1986 and 1990, while Brazil did so in 1994, 1998 and 2002. Deschamps, who captained France to the world title in 1998, led them to World Cup glory again in 2018 before they were beaten on penalties by Argentina in the 2022 final in Qatar.
Despite handing Spain the favourites tag, Deschamps is anticipating a high-quality contest. “They have only conceded one goal in six games,” he said. “We know this could be a most spectacular game. Luis and myself we know how to defend and with the quality of two teams offensively, we can think it’s going to be a spectacular game.” France have scored 16 times in six games at this tournament, with Kylian Mbappe contributing eight goals and three assists.
Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente pushed back on Deschamps’ suggestion that his side enter the tie as favourites. “It doesn’t mean anything,” De la Fuente said. “We are two great national teams facing one another. Whether we are favourites or not doesn’t mean further pressure for us. We have that pressure anyway because we want to do well for our country.”
Between them, France and Spain have won the World Cup three times — two for France and one for Spain. Both sides have reached this stage having gone through six games, setting up what promises to be one of the most eagerly anticipated semi-finals of the tournament.
Image credit: BBC Sport / BBC Sport
