World Cup 2026: Didier Deschamps predicts ‘spectacular’ France v Spain semi-final

France coach Didier Deschamps is predicting a “magnificent” semi-final when his team faces Spain in their heavyweight World Cup clash in Dallas on Tuesday.

After beating France in the Euro 2024 semi-finals on their way to becoming European champions, Spain defeated Les Bleus in a nine-goal last-four thriller in the Nations League last year.

“The past is in the past,” said Deschamps, who resigned at the end of the tournament after a 14-year tenure.

“Them [Spain] I’ve won in the past, but I’m looking forward to tomorrow.

“We are on another level now. We want to be in the final.”

Two-time world champions France will become the third nation to reach three consecutive World Cup finals if they win in Texas (kick-off 20:00 BST).

West Germany in 1982, 1986 and 1990 and Brazil in 1994, 1998 and 2002 are the only countries to achieve this feat so far.

Deschamps, who led France to the world championship in 1998, led France to the World Cup in 2018 and then lost to Argentina on penalties in the final in Qatar in 2022.

He said Spain would start the semi-finals as favourites.

“They have only conceded one goal in six games,” added Deschamps.

“We know this could be a great match. [Spain boss] Louis [de la Fuente] “Ben and I know how to defend and with the attacking quality of both teams, we can expect this to be a great game.”

De la Fuente later downplayed Deschamps’ claim that Spain were favourites.

“This doesn’t make any sense,” he said. “We are two great national teams facing each other.

“Being the favorite or not does not mean more pressure for us. We already have this pressure because we want to do good things for our country.”