Huge semifinal: France and Spain go head to head

A giant rendezvous awaits on the road to the World Cup final. In the tournament's first semifinal, two-time world champions France and European champions Spain will go head to head at the AT&T Stadium near Dallas on Tuesday. The clash, falling on Bastille Day, France's national day, will be refereed by El Salvador's Iván Barton; the winner will meet the victor of the England-Argentina tie in Sunday's final, while the loser heads to Saturday's third-place match in Miami.

France have hit a run that has stamped its mark on the tournament: topping their group of Norway, Senegal and Iraq with nine points before knocking out Sweden, Paraguay and Morocco, Didier Deschamps' side have won six from six, scoring 16 goals while keeping clean sheets in their last five World Cup matches. In their third consecutive semifinal, France are chasing the feat of becoming the third team to reach three straight finals after Germany and Brazil; moreover, they have won all of their last four World Cup semifinals. Sharing the top of the Golden Boot race with Lionel Messi on 8 goals, Kylian Mbappé holds a record 12 knockout-stage goals yet has never scored in a semifinal in his career — a statistic he will be desperate to change.

On Spain's side stands the football of control and patience. Topping their group before seeing off Austria and Belgium (2-1), Luis de la Fuente's side are chasing their first World Cup since 2010. The Rodri-Martín Zubimendi axis forms the heartbeat of their game, while it will be an emotional night for French-born Aymeric Laporte. The revenge subplot is also set: Spain toppled France 2-1 in the Euro 2024 semifinal in a match illuminated by Lamine Yamal; Lucas Digne's task this time is to stop the young star. France's lone question mark sits in midfield: the status of Aurélien Tchouaméni, who missed the last two matches with a thigh injury, will become clear on matchday.

Probable lineups
France (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Koundé, Upamecano, Saliba, Digne; Tchouaméni (or Koné), Rabiot; Dembélé, Olise, Doué; Mbappé
Spain (4-3-3): Unai Simón; Porro, Le Normand, Laporte, Cucurella; Zubimendi, Rodri, Fabián Ruiz; Yamal, Oyarzabal, Nico Williams

Image: Al Jazeera