Ahead of the crucial 2026 World Cup semifinal clash between France and Spain, Les Bleus head coach Didier Deschamps has begun launching a psychological war. The experienced tactician openly stated that the Spanish squad holds the status of main favorites in the duel for a ticket to the final.
Deschamps' move is seen as a clever strategy to shift the psychological pressure from his players' shoulders onto the opponents. According to him, Spain's status as European champions and their outstanding consistency under Luis de la Fuente mean that public expectations now lean more towards Rodri and his teammates.
"Before the tournament started, many favored us. However, looking at the current reality, Spain is the true favorite," Deschamps said, as reported by beIN Sports. He added that the opponent's impressive record automatically increases the moral burden they must carry on the pitch.
France itself is on a mission to prove they can bounce back after being forced to yield to Spain's strength in recent encounters, including Euro 2024. Nevertheless, Deschamps emphasized that the atmosphere of a World Cup semifinal has a far different level of intensity and demands absolute focus.
The fierce match between these two European football giants is scheduled to take place at the Dallas Stadium on Wednesday (15/7) at 02:00 WIB. This clash is predicted to be a high-level tactical test for both teams as they compete for a spot in the final match of the world's most prestigious competition.
