Spain to go on the front foot against France in World Cup semi-final, says De la Fuente

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said his team will go on the front foot against France in Tuesday's World Cup semi-final at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. De la Fuente wants Spain to impose their possession-based style on tournament favourites France, who reached the last four behind the form of Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembele.

How has Spain performed against France recently?

Spain have beaten France in their last two meetings, including a 5-4 win in the 2025 UEFA Nations League semi-final and a 2-1 victory at Euro 2024. Despite that record, De la Fuente admits France have improved significantly since those results and will pose a tougher challenge on Tuesday.

France coach Didier Deschamps has said Spain remain his side's biggest rivals for the title. Betting markets, however, overwhelmingly favour France to win a second World Cup in three attempts.

What did De la Fuente say about facing France?

De la Fuente told a press conference on Monday that Spain have studied France closely ahead of the match. "We've already analyzed France in great detail, we've known each other for a while now," he said.

He added that both teams have strong individual players, and the outcome will come down to balance. "We have to put all of our virtues on the table and try to counteract the strengths of the opponent," De la Fuente said. "The team that strikes a better balance is usually closer to getting the victory."

Why does De la Fuente believe France have improved?

De la Fuente pointed to Spain's 5-4 win over France in Stuttgart last year as a match that bears little resemblance to Tuesday's game. Spain led that Nations League semi-final 5-1 before France mounted a late comeback to make it 5-4.

"We're talking about two very different matches," he said. "I will just try to repeat the positive scenarios, but there were other details where things weren't that positive." De la Fuente said France's key players have grown significantly since that encounter. "Those players have grown, and what they are doing now is better than what they were doing then," he said, adding that France have improved their skills over the past two years.

What is Spain's game plan for the semi-final?

De la Fuente wants his side to control possession and dictate the tempo of the match. He described the two teams as having contrasting styles, with Spain looking to take the initiative early. "We have completely antagonistic playing styles, so we'll try to be on the front foot and take the initiative," he said.

What message will De la Fuente give his players before kick-off?

Asked about his final message to the squad, De la Fuente said he wants his players to embrace the occasion rather than fear it. "Let's get out there and enjoy it," he said. "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."