Sea or mountain. Cold or heat. Order or chaos. Lamine Yamal or Mbappé. Spain or France. To each their own. What is certain is that the first World Cup semifinal confirms a new rivalry, a classic of modern football, a clash between what are surely the two most powerful national teams in the world, if Messi allows it. In Dallas, the two sides of the Pyrenees face off in a semifinal of a major tournament for the third consecutive time. In the previous two, Euro 2024 and the 2025 Nations League, De la Fuente and his boys were sharper and made it to the final. But the past will be of little use when the ball starts rolling on the green of the AT&T Stadium, well covered, avoiding the scorching heat that reigns in the state of Texas these days.
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The Spanish national team is moving forward confidently in the tournament, initial doubts now dispelled, although their play, always effective, is not reaching the levels of brilliance of other occasions. But such is the cruising speed of La Roja, such is the confidence that has settled in a group of players who seem built to win, who have learned to compete like no one else, like Germany or Italy in their best times, that even without their best version they are capable of reaching a World Cup semifinal, a milestone that until now had only been reached once in the history of Spanish football: of course, in South Africa 2010.
The Frenchman is in a state of grace, with 8 goals; while the Spaniard seeks his first great recital
De la Fuente’s team has convincingly beaten Austria, Portugal, and Belgium in the qualifiers. These have been three matches in which they have indisputably dominated the game, but in which they have missed some freshness in the final meters. Freshness that Lamine Yamal must provide, who continues to improve in every match, more active, more accurate, and who now faces the new challenge of his life measuring himself against Mbappé’s team. His is another newly born rivalry that is set to fuel all kinds of emotions for years. A beautiful rivalry that began with the clashes between Barça and PSG at the start of Lamine’s career, continued in the classics with Mbappé’s signing by Real Madrid, and now the World Cup elevates it to a new, higher level.
France could not bring better memories to the star from Rocafonda, author of one of the best goals of the last Euro by placing the ball in the top corner right under Rabiot’s nose in the semifinal played at the Allianz Arena in Munich. But a year later, this time in Stuttgart, he scored two more goals against les bleus to qualify Spain for a final they would eventually lose on penalties to Portugal.
Although it is difficult to assert something like this about a team like France, already fearsome, semifinalists in the last three World Cups and champions in 2018, Deschamps’ team seems to have taken another step forward in this tournament. The confirmation of Dembélé as an undisputed star, confidence nurtured by Luis Enrique, Mbappé’s state of grace, and the emergence of a giant like Olise, whose physical and technical superiority is frightening, have made France the most feared team in the World Cup for their offensive arsenal, unmatched by anyone. “We know that the four players France has up front are more comfortable when they move offensively, but we have played many times against them, all in our favor, and we hope that tomorrow – meaning today – will be the same,” trusted Álex Baena, one of the regular starters for Spain.
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Because the French know that Spain has figured them out. That De la Fuente’s team has minimized like no one else all the power of Mbappé and company, and has also found ways to hurt them, as their recent encounters show. Although in today’s duel in Dallas, aspects that have little or nothing to do with sport will also come into play. The reaction of the French internationals after Rajoy’s unexpected and regrettable outburst will have to be examined, which could become a boomerang, an extra motivation for the French.
This is the third consecutive semifinal between them, Spain won the previous ones and Lamine won the duel against Mbappé
On a sporting level, Spain’s agonizing victory in the quarterfinals against Belgium thanks to Merino’s goal opened a debate, whose proportions are difficult to assess right now. And it has to do with Pedri’s role, who seemed an untouchable piece, his football validates him, but De la Fuente chose to dispense with him at the start to place Fabián. The formula worked, also backed by the Andalusian’s goal, and heading into the semifinals the question of who will start against France grows by the minute. The rest of the Spanish starting eleven seems settled, with all players established and aware of their respective roles. The substitutes will again play an important role given the scenario France will present, a very physical opponent that will require a significant energy effort, even though Spain will want to dominate possession and prevent their fearsome transitions.
Although it is impossible to discern who fears whom. There are plenty of arguments to join both sides of the discussion. That is why it is the classic of modern football. The match everyone wants to see. Dallas will grant them their wish.
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