France captain Kylian Mbappe did not complete Monday’s final training session ahead of the FIFA World Cup semifinal against Spain after suffering a minor ankle injury during Les Bleus’ 2-0 quarterfinal victory over Morocco. The forward, who was substituted late in the match after taking a knock, was partially rested during training as a precaution.
France coach Didier Deschamps reassured fans that the injury is not serious and confirmed Mbappe remains available for Tuesday’s clash.
Key updates:
- Mbappe suffered a minor ankle injury against Morocco.
- He completed only part of Monday’s training session.
- Deschamps confirmed the striker is “100 percent” fit for the semifinal.
- France expects Mbappe to start against Spain.
“Kylian is fine,” Deschamps said, adding that the star forward trained but was allowed to complete a shorter drill to manage his workload.
Deschamps Labels Spain as Tournament Favourites
Despite France’s impressive run to the semifinals, Deschamps believes Spain remain the favourites heading into the blockbuster showdown at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. He praised Spain’s balanced style of play, highlighting both their attacking quality and defensive solidity after recovering from an opening goalless draw against Cape Verde.
Why Deschamps rates Spain highly:
- European champions with strong recent form.
- Excellent balance in attack and defense.
- Have conceded just one goal in their last several matches.
- Defeated France in their previous two meetings.
Spain Unfazed by Favourite Tag
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente played down suggestions that his team enters the semifinal as favourites, insisting such labels have little impact on the outcome.
“We are two great national teams facing each other,” De la Fuente said, adding that Spain is accustomed to handling the pressure of major tournaments and remains focused on representing the country with pride.
A Semifinal Set for Fireworks
Deschamps expects Tuesday’s encounter to be one of the tournament’s standout matches, with both sides boasting world-class attacking talent.
The France coach also acknowledged the threat posed by Spanish winger Lamine Yamal, who has impressed in recent meetings between the two nations. However, Deschamps expressed confidence in France’s defensive quality and believes his squad has enough strength to contain Spain’s rising star while creating problems of their own.
With Mbappe declared fully fit and both teams in strong form, the France-Spain semifinal promises to be one of the biggest matches of the FIFA World Cup.