‘Kylian is fine’: France ready, full-strength for Spain World Cup semifinal
France's national football team is preparing for a World Cup semifinal match against Spain, with coach Didier Deschamps confirming that star player Kylian Mbappe is fully available. The team is focused on a tactical battle for midfield control against the possession-oriented Spanish side.
Why it matters
As a major international sporting event, the World Cup semifinal carries significant cultural and economic weight for the participating nations.
French coach Deschamps says his team will be fully prepared for a midfield battle against the European champions.
x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info Kylian Mbappe took part in France's training session on Monday [Stacy Revere/Getty Images via AFP] By Reuters Published On 14 Jul 2026 14 Jul 2026 France will not willingly surrender possession to Spain in their World Cup semifinal , coach Didier Deschamps said while confirming Kylian Mbappe’s full availability for the crucial fixture.
“Spain can apply a lot of pressure, but we are also a team who need the ball,” Deschamps told reporters on Monday. “There will be a battle for control.”
Spain have built their run to the last four around their ability to dominate the ball, press opponents deep into their own half and control the rhythm of matches.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in