Spain has kept its lineup unchanged following a strong performance against Belgium. Mikel Merino, who has been a key substitute in the previous matches, will once again start on the bench. Fabian Ruiz has been chosen to play in midfield over Pedri.
On the other hand, France has made two adjustments to the squad that triumphed over Morocco. Aurélien Tchouaméni makes his return from injury, taking the place of Manu Koné in midfield, while Bradley Barcola replaces Désiré Doué on the left side.
France’s starting eleven includes: Maignan, Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, Digne, Tchouameni, Rabiot, Dembele, Olise, Barcola, and Mbappe. The substitutes are Samba, Risser, Gusto, Kone, Thuram, Kante, Konate, Zaire Emery, Theo Hernandez, Doue, Lucas Hernandez, Mateta, Cherki, Akliouche, and Lacroix.
Spain will field: Simon, Porro, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella, Rodri, Fabian, Yamal, Olmo, Baena, and Oyarzabal. Their bench consists of Raya, Joan Garcia, Pubill, Grimaldo, Eric Garcia, Llorente, Merino, Torres, Gavi, Pino, Williams, Zubimendi, Gonzalez, Munoz, and Iglesias.
The match will be officiated by referee Ivan Barton Cisneros from El Salvador.
Historical Context of the Match
This semi-final marks France’s eighth appearance at this stage of the tournament. Their track record is impressive, with three losses—against Brazil in 1958 and West Germany in both 1982 and 1986—followed by four victories against Croatia in 1998, Portugal in 2006, Belgium in 2018, and Morocco in 2022.
In contrast, Spain is making just its second appearance in a semi-final, but they boast a perfect record, having defeated Germany in 2010. They also participated in the final pool in 1950, which turned out to be quite eventful.
Team Performance Overview
So far, there have been four penalty shoot-outs in the tournament. Will we see another one tonight? It’s certainly a possibility.
Spain had a rocky start, beginning with a goalless draw against Cape Verde—a result that appears less disappointing in hindsight. They eventually found their rhythm with a convincing win over Saudi Arabia, followed by knocking out Uruguay. Despite their initial struggles, Spain managed to top Group H.
As for the knockout stages, Spain has progressed effectively without showcasing their full potential, although Mikel Oyarzabal’s finishes against Austria were particularly impressive.
France sailed through Group I without much trouble. They initially stumbled but later surged ahead of Senegal, and a two-hour weather delay during their match against Iraq did not hinder their momentum. They achieved a dominant victory over Norway B.
In the knockout rounds, France has demonstrated their quality, making their mark in various ways. And now, they are poised for this significant match.
Anticipation for the Clash
As the semi-final approaches, the contest between France and Spain promises to be a historic showdown between two of the tournament’s standout teams. Expectations are high, and the excitement is palpable.
The match, set to kick off in Dallas, is scheduled for 8 PM BST, 3 PM EST, and 5 AM AEST. It’s time for the action to begin!
