Dallas hosts World Cup semifinal as Spain’s Yamal eyes birthday win against France
14.07.2026
Spain prepares for France showdown
Spain is set to face France in a highly anticipated World Cup semifinal match on Tuesday at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The fixture comes after Spain’s 2-1 victory over Belgium in the quarterfinals. For Spain’s young talent, Lamine Yamal, a win would be the ultimate birthday gift, as he recently celebrated his 19th birthday.
Yamal, a prodigy from Barcelona, addressed reporters on Monday, dismissing any fear regarding the upcoming match against France. He stated, “I was asked if I was afraid of France, and I said no. We are European champions. It’s simply football.” He also mentioned that while he had purchased a jewel-encrusted necklace for his birthday, the real present would be a victory on Tuesday, securing a spot in Sunday’s World Cup final and a trip to New York.
Despite other players showing strong goal-scoring form in the tournament, Yamal has scored once so far. However, he remains focused on the team’s performance. “I don’t focus on goals, but it’s always special to score in a match like this. I accept the challenge. That’s why I came here,” Yamal commented, anticipating a “beautiful match for the spectators.” He added that this is “the game everyone was waiting for.”
Yamal maintains a calm approach to the significant match, explaining, “There are far more difficult situations in life than a football match, so I’m calm. I don’t feel any extra pressure; I’ll go out and play like always and give my all for the team.”
Coaches’ perspectives and team strategies
Spain’s coach, Luis de la Fuente, outlined his team’s strategy to play on the “front foot” against France, who are considered tournament favorites. De la Fuente’s side aims to implement their possession-based style of play in what is expected to be a compelling clash of footballing philosophies. France’s coach, Didier Deschamps, has maintained that Spain remains the favorite for the World Cup, despite betting markets heavily favoring France to win their second title in three attempts.
France has advanced to the semifinals with an attacking style of play, featuring players such as Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise, and Ousmane Dembele. De la Fuente, whose team has defeated France in their last two encounters, is preparing for another strategic match. “We’ve already analysed France in great detail; we’ve known each other for a while now,” De la Fuente said. He emphasized the importance of balancing their virtues against the opponent’s strengths, stating, “The team that strikes a better balance is usually closer to getting the victory.”
De la Fuente acknowledged the challenge posed by France, noting their significant improvement since Spain’s 5-4 victory in a UEFA Nations League semifinal in Stuttgart last year. He believes the current France squad is “far better” due to the growth of their players. “They’ve improved their skills in the past two years, and that’s the reality,” he added.
Controlling possession and tempo will be crucial for Spain. De la Fuente’s final message to his team will be to “enjoy it.” He remarked, “We are in a unique setting. Who knows whether we will come back? We must be the team that we know that we can be. We must be strong and try to counter the strength of the opponent.”
France’s approach to the semifinal
France’s midfielder, Adrien Rabiot, stated that his team does not have a specific “anti-Lamine Yamal plan” for the semifinal. Instead, their focus is on the entire Spanish team. “There is no anti-Lamine Yamal plan. We are focused on the Spanish team, not on a single player,” Rabiot informed reporters. He highlighted Spain’s overall danger, including their attacking players, ball possession, ability to create chances near the box, and combination play.
Rabiot had previously commented on Yamal, suggesting the Barcelona star needed to “do more” before a Euro 2024 semifinal. When questioned about these past remarks, Rabiot said he did not remember them exactly but affirmed that if he made them, it reflected his thoughts at the time. He reiterated, “This is still a football match, and we’re not afraid of anyone.”
Rabiot expressed confidence in France’s preparation for the semifinal, stating, “Given our journey so far, we’ve arrived at this semifinal in the best possible condition. Everything is in our favor.” He believes it would have been difficult for them to be better prepared. The outcome, he concluded, “The pitch will decide, because this is still football.” The winner of the semifinal will advance to play either Argentina or England in the World Cup final.
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Source: aljazeera.com
Ishaan Kapoor
Sports correspondent covering cricket, football and international competitions.