France head into their FIFA World Cup semifinal against Spain with a major boost after head coach Didier Deschamps confirmed that captain Kylian Mbappé is fit and available despite recent concerns over an ankle injury. The update comes as a relief for French fans ahead of one of the tournament’s biggest matches.
Mbappé had missed part of France’s final training session after picking up a minor ankle injury during the quarterfinal victory over Morocco. However, Deschamps dismissed fears over the striker’s fitness, saying the reduced training load was only a precaution and adding, “Kylian is fine.” The French captain is expected to lead the attack against Spain.
France will also welcome the return of midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni, giving Deschamps a near full-strength squad for the crucial encounter. Les Bleus have enjoyed an impressive World Cup campaign, defeating Sweden, Paraguay, and Morocco in the knockout rounds while conceding just two goals throughout the tournament.
Spain arrive in equally strong form after overcoming Austria, Portugal, and Belgium to book their place in the semifinals. Led by head coach Luis de la Fuente, the European champions have combined disciplined defending with patient possession football, making them one of the toughest teams in the competition.
The semifinal also revives a growing rivalry between the two European giants. Spain knocked France out of Euro 2024, and although Deschamps has played down talk of revenge, several French players have admitted they are eager to produce a different result on the World Cup stage.
A key battle will be between Kylian Mbappé and Spain’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal. Their duel is expected to be one of the highlights of the match, with both players capable of deciding the contest through moments of individual brilliance.
With both teams unbeaten and packed with world-class talent, the semifinal promises to be a thrilling contest. The winner will secure a place in the FIFA World Cup final, while the losing side will compete in the third-place playoff.
What matches are next? Show me the final bracket. Compare France and Spain stats. Make me a World Cup prediction bracket.
