Didier Deschamps insists that Spain enters the World Cup 2026 semi-final against his France side as the favorites, while predicting a spectacular encounter in Dallas.

France currently top the world rankings and many observers have identified them as the best team in the tournament so far. However, Spain holds recent pedigree, having won Euro 2024—where they defeated France in the semi-finals—and having also beaten Deschamps’ side in last year’s Nations League.

Deschamps has maintained throughout the World Cup that Spain are the likely winners, a stance he holds despite France winning every match and scoring five more goals than their upcoming opponents.

He explained: “If you see what Spain have done in the first match against Cape Verde [a 0-0 draw], forget about that, but in the rest Spain confirmed they are the favourite. I don’t want to add extra pressure to Luis [de la Fuente, the manager] and their team, he knows very well people are expecting greatly of their team.

“They can attack and defend very well, they only conceded one goal. Luis and myself, we know how to defend well but with the quality of the two teams offensively we could think it is going to be a spectacular game.”

Kylian Mbappe utilized ice on his ankle after exiting the quarter-final victory over Morocco, though he stated afterward that he felt fine.

Deschamps expressed no concerns regarding his captain, who has netted eight goals during this World Cup, confirming: “He trained today.”

The France manager faces a selection choice in midfield, as Aurelien Tchouameni is fit to return following a groin injury. Although the Real Madrid player sat on the bench against Morocco, Deschamps felt that playing him at that time carried too high a risk.

“He is now available,” said Deschamps. “Even though he was on the bench for the last game, the risk was high. He is better today, I am not going to say he has been 100 percent cured. The last game he played was two weeks ago but it does not mean anything.”