France vs Spain, FIFA World Cup: France do not fear Spain but respect their quality, players says

France's national football team is preparing for a high-stakes World Cup semifinal match against Spain. French defenders emphasize respect for Spain's defensive strength and individual talent, particularly winger Lamine Yamal, while maintaining confidence in their own squad's abilities.
Why it matters
The World Cup is a major global sporting event, and this match represents a clash between two of the tournament's most successful and highly-regarded teams.
France are not afraid of Spain going into their World Cup semifinal on Tuesday (July 21, 2026), defender Ibrahima Konate said on Sunday, but they are conscious of their opponents' quality and their near-perfect backline.
The article is a standard sports report focusing on player quotes and team statistics without political or social bias.
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