In the pre-match press conference, coach Deschamps did not avoid questions about the race for the gold cup.
He said: "That's right, I confirm Spain is the highest rated team. Except for the match with Cabo Verde, they have performed very stably throughout the tournament. I don't want to put more pressure on Luis de la Fuente because he also understands how high the expectations for the Spanish national team are.
According to Deschamps, assessing Spain as a bright candidate does not mean that the French team is inferior. The 57-year-old coach said that both teams possess many quality players, capable of creating a semi-final with very high professional quality. He believes this will be a balanced confrontation between two teams that are in the best form in the tournament.
France entered the round of 4 strongest teams with an effective attack, while Spain impressed with their controlling and consistent playing style from the beginning of the tournament. These factors make Deschamps rate the opponent as the most prominent name on the journey to conquer this year's World Cup.
On the other side, coach Luis de la Fuente is not too concerned about the fact that his home team is considered the number one candidate. The Spanish coach emphasized that pre-match predictions do not determine the outcome on the field, and affirmed that the team must continue to maintain focus against an experienced opponent like France.
The semi-final match between France and Spain will take place at 2:00 AM on July 15 (Vietnam time). The winning team will win the right to participate in the 2026 World Cup final.
