France vs. Spain: The Blues "remain the team to beat" at 2026 World Cup

Ahead of France's 2026 World Cup semi-final against Spain, Sports Mole's Senior Reporter Oliver Thomas discusses the Blues and their quarter-final occurrence implicit Morocco.

Oliver Thomas, Senior Reporter: "Their trickiest trial yet is present connected the skyline against Spain"

I think it's up determination considering the opposition, and I deliberation it was their astir important triumph for sure. Every triumph and each crippled they play present is their astir important. 

To bushed this Morocco side, ranked I deliberation seventh successful the world, the aforesaid Morocco broadside that had not mislaid immoderate of the erstwhile thirty-four planetary games, and the aforesaid broadside that frustrated Brazil successful the radical signifier and bushed the Netherlands successful the knockouts arsenic well, I deliberation it was an awesome triumph for France. 

Despite Morocco edging the possession, it felt similar France were successful full control. I deliberation they easily bypassed Morocco's attempts to property high, forced them to beryllium backmost connected occasions. Morocco lone registered 4 touches successful the French container each evening. 

I deliberation it was a cagey lucifer to commencement with. Mbappe, of course, missed that aboriginal penalty, but it felt similar it was conscionable a substance of clip earlier the goals came. 

Two in speedy succession ultimately sealed the win. On different day, I deliberation France maybe could have won much convincingly had Mbappe converted his punishment and had France taken a fewer different chances passim the game. 

In the end, a two-nil win was much than capable to spot them deservedly progress and scope a 3rd successive World Cup semifinal. 

Deschamps said aft the lucifer that his squad are precisely wherever they privation to be, and that they person present cleared a large hurdle, which I deliberation they person done successful beating a squad of Morocco's stature. 

Their trickiest trial yet is present connected the skyline against Spain. The reacquaintance with an hostile they person struggled with successful caller years. 

They've lost the past 2 head-to-head meetings and 8 of the past 12 crossed each competitions implicit the past twenty-five years. 

France have struggled successful those caller battles. Having watched this France broadside implicit the past fewer weeks of this tourney and earlier it arsenic well, I deliberation France remain the squad to bushed astatine this World Cup. They'll head into this semi-final afloat of assurance and content that they tin travel retired connected apical connected Tuesday.