STAR WORLD CUP PREVIEW Tues: France v Spain

France face Spain in the first World Cup semi-final at Dallas Stadium, with a place in Sunday’s showpiece up for grabs, writes JOE CITRONE.

Didier Deschamps’ side have been the standout team of this tournament and deservedly go into Tuesday as favourites. A perfect group campaign, three straight knockout clean sheets and Kylian Mbappe chasing down Messi’s World Cup goal record – France look built for another final.

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France v Spain
FIFA World Cup Semi-Final
21:00 ITV1 / ITVX / STV

HEAD-TO-HEAD
JUN 2025 NATIONS LEAGUE Spain 5-4 France
JUL 2024 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP Spain 2-1 France
OCT 2021 NATIONS LEAGUE France 2-1 Spain
MAR 2017 FRIENDLY France 0-2 Spain
SEP 2014 FRIENDLY France 1-0 Spain

FRANCE
JUL 2026 WORLD CUP France 2-0 Morocco
JUL 2026 WORLD CUP Paraguay 0-1 France
JUN 2026 WORLD CUP France 3-0 Sweden
JUN 2026 WORLD CUP Norway 1-4 France
JUN 2026 WORLD CUP France 3-0 Iraq

SPAIN
JUL 2026 WORLD CUP Spain 2-1 Belgium
JUL 2026 WORLD CUP Portugal 0-1 Spain
JUL 2026 WORLD CUP Spain 3-0 Austria
JUN 2026 WORLD CUP Spain 1-0 Uruguay
JUN 2026 WORLD CUP Spain 4-0 Saudi Arabia

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Spain, meanwhile, keep finding a way. Their last two knockout wins have needed a late winner, with Mikel Merino the hero against both Portugal and Belgium.

It’s not pretty, but La Roja are into a first World Cup semi since they lifted the trophy in 2010, and that back-line, marshalled by Rodri just in front, has conceded once in six games.

The worry for Spain is Lamine Yamal. Fit again after injury, but not yet firing – no goal, no assist since the group stage. He was the difference-maker when these two met at EURO 2024, and Spain will need that version of him again.

I’ll take France to edge it in 90 minutes, which you can back at 5/4 with starsports.bet.

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