SOCCER: France ready to fight Spain for midfield control in World Cup semi-final

DALLAS, Texas — France will not willingly give up possession against Spain in Tuesday's FIFA World Cup semifinal, with coach Didier Deschamps insisting his side will compete for control of the game rather than simply defend and rely on counterattacks.

Spain have reached the last four by dominating possession, pressing opponents high up the field, and dictating the tempo of matches. While France have the pace to threaten on the break, Deschamps said his team also needs to keep the ball and compete in midfield.

"Spain can apply a lot of pressure, but we are also a team who need the ball," Deschamps told reporters on Monday. "There will be a battle for control."

Midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery said France have the flexibility to adjust their approach depending on how the match develops.

"Spain have great quality on the ball," he said. "We have the qualities to attack quickly on the counter, to keep possession ourselves and to defend well. The course of the game will dictate things. I cannot say now exactly how the match will unfold."

France received a boost with the return of midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni, who is available for selection after recovering from a hamstring injury.

The Real Madrid midfielder last played in France's 3-0 Round of 32 victory over Sweden on June 30 before missing wins over Paraguay and Morocco. Deschamps said Tchouameni has not fully recovered but is fit enough to return.

"For the last match, the risk was too high," Deschamps said. "He is better today, although we cannot say he is 100% recovered. His last game was two weeks ago, but that is not prohibitive. The important thing is that he is available."

Tchouameni's return gives France a natural defensive midfielder capable of shielding the back line, winning physical battles, and helping the team play through Spain's aggressive press.

Deschamps could also keep the midfield combination of Manu Kone and Adrien Rabiot that helped France defeat Morocco in the quarterfinals, while Zaire-Emery remains another option in a contest expected to be decided in the middle of the field.

Spain's possession-based style is designed to create scoring opportunities while wearing down opponents through constant ball movement. France defender Jules Kounde said his team must also maintain possession to prevent Spain from settling into their preferred rhythm.

Although Spain defeated France in the UEFA Euro 2024 semifinals and again in the 2025 UEFA Nations League semifinals, Deschamps said those results have little bearing on Tuesday's showdown.

"There are no particular lessons," he said. "The players are different now and they are not necessarily at the same level of form. Spain won those two matches, so congratulations to them, but what interests me is tomorrow's game."

Deschamps added that adapting to different opponents has been key to France's success as Les Bleus pursue a third straight appearance in the World Cup final.

"When you are a coach, the key word is adaptation," he said. "Football is not an exact science, but preparation and planning are always important, right down to the smallest detail."

France's attack will once again be led by tournament top scorer Kylian Mbappe, who is managing a minor ankle injury. However, the semifinal could ultimately be decided by whether France's midfield can prevent Spain from controlling possession while creating enough opportunities for its forwards. -Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Ken Ferris/Reuters