Les Bleus will take on the European champions with hopes of victory after losing in 2024 and 2025
France have dismissed talk of being afraid of Spain as the two European heavyweights prepare for a World Cup semi-final clash.
In some pre-match comments, Spain’s Lamine Yamal reminded everybody that France have good reason to fear Spain, seeing as La Roja have knocked them out in major tournaments twice in the last two years.
Spain beat France in the semi-finals on their way to winning Euro 2024. They also beat them at the same stage in the Uefa Nations League last year, although Spain eventually lost the trophy to Portugal. However, France’s Ibrahima Konate was not having such talk.
“Is France afraid of Spain? No,” Konate said. “To be completely honest, we don’t pay attention to everything that’s said leading up to the game.
“We shouldn’t be afraid of anyone. The important thing is to maintain the humility with which we started this competition and not fall into those kinds of traps, especially at a time like this.
“He can say whatever he wants. We’re going to prepare for the game as best we can, and I hope that, when it’s over, the result will be in our favour.”
France face the European champions seeking a place in the World Cup final having reached there in the last two tournaments in 2018 and 2022. Konate also said France would focus their preparations on Spain as a team rather than on dealing with Yamal.
“To be completely honest, we haven’t thought specifically about that,” Konate said. “Spain is an exceptional team, with many top-level players. But the goal isn’t to focus on just one player, because the whole team can hurt you. It’s not just Lamine, it’s the whole of Spain.”
The defender also suggested France are better equipped than they were on the last two occasions they met, especially at Euro 2024.
“We’re not going to lie, it was a very difficult match,” Konate said. “But, honestly, if we’re honest with each other – and with all due respect to every player on this French national team – the starting lineup that took the field against Spain that day, especially on the defensive line, consisted of many players who hadn’t developed any chemistry with one another. It was the first time we’d all played together, and that made things complicated.
“I think that if that situation had been different, I honestly don’t think the match would have played out the same way.”
