Spain are relishing the challenge of facing France in the FIFA World Cup semi-final, with head coach Luis de la Fuente and teenage star Lamine Yamal insisting La Roja have what it takes to reach the final.
After edging Belgium 2-1 in the quarter-finals, Spain now face one of the tournament favourites in a repeat of several memorable recent encounters. While France boast world-class talent across the pitch, confidence remains high in the Spanish camp.
Yamal, who has been one of Spain’s most influential players despite scoring just once at the tournament, believes there is no reason for his side to be intimidated.
“If France should fear anyone, it’s us,” the Barcelona winger said after Spain’s victory over Belgium.
ALSO READ: Spain vs Belgium: Merino the hero again as La Roja march into World Cup semifinals
The 18-year-old pointed to Spain’s recent record against France as another reason for optimism.
“We have knocked them out before. We have beaten them two times. I honestly think we’re the two best teams at this World Cup, so we’ll see what happens, but we do not have any fear,” Yamal added.
Although his goal return has been modest, Yamal has remained at the heart of Spain’s attacking play. His pace, movement and ability to create space for teammates have been crucial as Spain have grown stronger with every match in the tournament.
Head coach Luis de la Fuente also believes his players are ready for the challenge awaiting them. While acknowledging France’s quality, he said Spain have every reason to believe they can progress to the final.
“The expectations are very, very high for the next game,” De la Fuente told reporters. “We’re concentrated on this next game and very well aware of the potential of our opponent. But we are very clear that we are able to beat France.”
The Spain coach expects another demanding contest but believes his players have shown enough throughout the tournament to justify their confidence.
“We have the quality and it’s a semi-final again. We’ve had a semi-final against them before and we were successful. The game will be very demanding and energetic. We’ll need to produce the best version of ourselves.”
Spain have impressed with their disciplined defending and composed midfield, while players such as Pedri, Dani Olmo and Yamal have provided the creativity going forward. Their steady improvement throughout the tournament has strengthened the belief that they can overcome one of the favourites for the title.
With a place in the World Cup final at stake, Spain will look to back up their confidence on the pitch. If the words of De la Fuente and Yamal are anything to go by, La Roja head into the semi-final convinced they have what it takes to eliminate France once again.
Read more about other World Cup teams in 2026 below:
Morocco national football team 2026
Argentina national football team 2026
Mexico national football team 2026
Spain national football team 2026
Brazil national football team 2026
France national football team 2026
Senegal national football team 2026