“It’s no exaggeration to call this the final before the final.” That’s how Spain’s head coach, Luis de la Fuente, described Wednesday’s World Cup semi-final between his team and France, following Spain’s victory over Belgium in the quarter-finals. Didier Deschamps, France’s coach, had already tipped Spain as the tournament’s top contender before a single match had been played.

Two teams, one mission: secure a place in the final

Both sides have arrived at this stage in peak form, determined to claim a spot in Sunday’s final against the winner of the England-Argentina tie. Their latest meeting in the European Championship semi-finals in 2024 and the Nations League final in 2025 left fans eager for another chapter in this rivalry. So what makes this clash even more compelling than the other semi-final?

Defensive rock, attacking dynamite

France and Spain have conceded just two and one goals respectively, sitting at the top of the tournament’s defensive rankings (Colombia also kept a clean sheet but were eliminated in the Round of 16). Spain has gone five matches without conceding, edging out France, which has kept four clean sheets. Their defensive records tower over those of the other two semi-finalists—Argentina and England—both of which have conceded six goals and managed only two clean sheets.

But these teams aren’t just about defense. According to FIFA statistics, both have combined for 110 shots on goal—only Belgium (112) has created more. Argentina and England lag behind with 98 and 94 attempts respectively. While Spain has managed just 11 goals—fewer than any other semi-finalist—France has scored 16, trailing only Argentina’s 17. Despite the efficiency gap, both teams boast playmakers of the highest order: Spain’s Lamine Yamal and France’s Michael Olise, who leads the tournament in assists with five.

“This promises to be an explosive match, full of drama and intensity.”

Didier Deschamps

in pre-tournament press conference

The power of the bench

Spain’s midfield depth is legendary. Players like Mikel Merino, who came off the bench to score the winner against Portugal in stoppage time and again against Belgium in the 88th minute, embody the team’s resilience. With a core of Rodri, Gavi, Pedri, and Lamine Yamal, Spain’s midfield is a fluid, interchangeable unit where no player is irreplaceable. Rodri, the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner, tops the tournament in passes completed (629), while Yamal’s dribbling opens space for teammates like Ferran Torres, Dani Olmo, and Nico Williams.

France’s bench has also been a game-changer. Bradley Barcola, who scored within two minutes of coming on against Senegal in the group stage and again as a starter against Sweden, has injected energy and creativity. Players like Désiré Doué, Manu Koné, Warren Zaïre-Emery, and Rayan Cherki have consistently raised the tempo from the substitutes’ bench.

A rivalry defined by recent dominance

After a period of decline following their golden generation’s peak (Euro 2008, World Cup 2010, Euro 2012), Spain has roared back to life, winning Euro 2024 and the Nations League in 2025—both times defeating France in the semi-finals. At Euro 2024, Spain dominated a lackluster French side that managed only one goal in the group stage, winning 2–1. A year later, Spain led 5–1 after 67 minutes, only for France to stage a dramatic fightback before falling 5–4.

“We know their strength, but we’re the only team to have beaten them twice in semi-finals,” noted Luis de la Fuente. “If anyone should be feared, it’s us. We eliminated them last time—let’s see what happens this time.”

Lamine Yamal’s bravado was met with defiance from France’s Ibrahima Konaté: “He can say what he wants. Fear has no place here, especially at this stage. We must stay humble and avoid falling into that trap.”

History reminds us of the dangers of overconfidence: the last time Spain entered a major tournament final with such swagger, France—led by Zinedine Zidane—crushed them 3–1 in the Round of 16 of the 1998 World Cup. With eight Barcelona players in Spain’s 26-man squad and Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé and Aurélien Tchouaméni on the pitch, Friday’s clash carries extra motivation for the French.