Spain National Team coach Luis de la Fuente has lavished praise on the strength of the France National Team ahead of their crucial 2026 World Cup semifinal clash. Although La Furia Roja boast an impressive head-to-head record in recent years, De la Fuente warned his players not to let their guard down against a Les Bleus side he considers significantly improved.
Spain previously succeeded in defeating France in two previous crucial matches, namely at Euro 2024 and the 2025 UEFA Nations League. However, the 65-year-old tactician emphasized that past successes cannot guarantee a victory in this match. According to him, Didier Deschamps' side is currently showing a very significant improvement in performance, both collectively and in the individual quality of their players.
"France is much better now compared to when we faced them previously. Their individual quality continues to improve, especially Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé. We have also progressed, but we must be extremely careful to curb their movements," De la Fuente said. He added that the primary focus of Spain's strategy is to restrict space and disrupt coordination among French players on the pitch.
This semifinal match is predicted to present a fierce duel between France's aggressive attack and Spain's signature ball-possession dominance. De la Fuente even likened this match to an ideal final, alongside the other semifinal clash featuring England and Argentina as representatives of the world's four best football powerhouses today.
