SOCCER: France put past behind them as history beckons against Spain

DALLAS — France are one win away from extending one of the most remarkable periods of World Cup success, with a third consecutive final and a fifth appearance in the title match in eight tournaments within reach when they face Spain on Tuesday.

Standing in their way is a familiar opponent that has repeatedly denied them in recent years and has conceded only once throughout this tournament.

Spain eliminated France in the Euro 2024 semifinals and defeated them again in last year’s Nations League thriller, but Les Bleus enter this meeting with the tournament’s two leading scorers — Kylian Mbappe with eight goals and Ousmane Dembele with five — and a more balanced squad than in previous encounters.

There is some continuity from the teams that met in Munich two years ago, when Spain recovered from Randal Kolo Muani’s early header to win 2-1 through goals from Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo.

Seven players who started for France in that match could feature again in Dallas, but the similarities largely end there.

France arrived at the Euro 2024 semifinal still searching for consistency in attack. Mbappe was affected by a broken nose suffered in their opening match, Antoine Griezmann struggled to make an impact, and the team reached the last four despite failing to score from open play regularly.

Different foundation

Their run in the United States has been built on a much stronger foundation.

Mbappe and Dembele have combined for 13 goals, while Michael Olise has provided creativity and control between the lines. Bradley Barcola and Desire Doue have also given France additional attacking options from the starting lineup or the bench.

France have become more organized defensively and more unpredictable in attack, capable of playing with speed, slowing the tempo or defending in a compact shape for long periods without losing control.

That tactical flexibility was evident in their 2-0 quarterfinal victory over Morocco, when France absorbed pressure, limited their opponents’ chances and waited for opportunities to decide the match.

That balance will now be tested against Spain, who will welcome the return of Lamine Yamal, a player regaining his rhythm after arriving at the tournament with a hamstring injury.

Luis de la Fuente’s team have maintained the collective approach that helped them win the European Championship, using possession not only to create opportunities but also to limit opponents’ attacking chances.

Their record of conceding just one goal shows how difficult they have been to break down, although Belgium demonstrated in Spain’s 2-1 quarterfinal win that they can be vulnerable when opponents bypass their pressing system and attack the space behind their midfield.

France appear well-equipped to take advantage of those situations.

Mbappe’s pace could force Spain’s defenders to be cautious about pushing their defensive line too high, while Dembele’s ability to create danger from wide areas can make it difficult to predict where the biggest threat will come from.

Olise has also become a key link in France’s attack, moving into central areas to combine with midfielders before quickly accelerating forward.

France coach Didier Deschamps must decide whether to strengthen his midfield or continue with the attacking setup that has made his team one of the tournament’s most dangerous sides.

Using four attacking players would increase Spain’s defensive concerns but could leave France exposed if Spain manage to break through their pressing structure.

History within reach

“We are the only ones to have beaten them twice in a row, but this third match will be very different,” De la Fuente said after Spain’s victory over Belgium.

“These are two very high-level teams who are going to face each other.”

France, however, have a historic achievement within reach.

They reached the World Cup final in 1998, 2006, 2018 and 2022, winning the trophy twice. A victory in Dallas would send them to a fifth final appearance in eight tournaments.

It would also make France the first nation since Brazil from 1994 to 2002 to reach three consecutive World Cup finals.

That consistency has been built on Deschamps’ ability to refresh his squad while maintaining its competitive identity. The 2018 champions relied on defensive strength and quick transitions, while the 2022 finalists depended heavily on Mbappe’s individual brilliance. This current team appears deeper, more attacking and less reliant on one method of winning.

Spain may be the team best equipped to expose any remaining weaknesses.

They have conceded only once, possess the technical quality to control possession and have repeatedly shown they can turn extended periods of dominance into decisive attacking moments.

However, France enter the semifinal with greater attacking power, growing confidence and the belief that their recent defeats against Spain no longer define this rivalry.

-Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Clare Fallon/Reuters