Didier Deschamps Reportedly Knows the Recipe for Spain. The French Coach Reveals His Plan

In Arlington, France can fight for their third World Cup final appearance with an optimal squad. The good news for them is primarily the health of Kylian Mbappé, who leads the scoring charts with eight goals, alongside Lionel Messi.

The Real Madrid forward left the field at the end of the quarter-final match against Morocco and was seen icing his ankle on the bench. He also finished the last training session earlier than the rest of the team, but now it seems he is fully recovered. "Kylian feels good. He is 100% ready, it couldn't be better," said the 57-year-old coach.

Deschamps will also have midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni available, who missed the previous two matches due to a thigh muscle injury.

"For the last match, the risk was still too great. Now he feels better, although we can't say he's 100% recovered. It's true he hasn't played for two weeks, but that's not an obstacle. The important thing is that he's available," the experienced coach informed.

Tchouaméni's presence will aid him in the midfield battle, which the coach believes could be key against the European champions, who enjoy lengthy possession and controlling the game's tempo. France, conversely, is known for its speed and counter-attacks, but Deschamps dismissed speculation that his team would focus on defense and rely on lightning-fast breaks.

"Spain can exert immense pressure and are excellent with the ball, but we are also a team that needs possession. If only to deny it to our opponents. I believe the battle for ball control, and thus control of the midfield, will be crucial," explained the French national team coach.

Jules Koundé shares a similar view. "Spain's game is built on ball possession. It's not just about patiently creating scoring opportunities, but also about wearing down the opponent by constantly shifting the ball from one side of the pitch to the other.

To disrupt this pattern, we will also want to have the ball. We cannot allow Spain to control the game for too long, as it could turn into their dominance on the field," analyzed the Barcelona right-back.

The two-time world champions lost their last two matches against Spain – in the semi-finals of EURO 2024 and in the same stage of the 2024/25 Nations League. Deschamps emphasized that insights from these encounters helped him prepare for the fight to reach the World Cup final. However, he added that they do not dictate the outcome of the match in Arlington.

"Every match tells its own story; each one unfolds differently. Players change, their form fluctuates. Spain won our two previous encounters, and I congratulate them on that, but my focus is solely on what lies ahead, on what will happen on Tuesday."

"Adaptation is key; we must react to everything as it happens. Although football is not an exact science, preparation and planning down to the smallest details are always important," explained the French coach ahead of the semi-final clash against Spain.