Deschamps' record night and Saliba's wall ahead of Spain
Deschamps' 26th: the semi-final that rewrites history
France play Spain tonight at 21:00 CEST. A win sends your team to a third straight World Cup final. Didier Deschamps steps into his 26th World Cup match as a coach, a record (1).
Maxence Lacroix put it plainly: "Since day one we have wanted to go far in this competition. We have never hidden" (1).
Saliba's wall
France have not trailed in any match this tournament. William Saliba anchors that defence, and the Spain semi-final is the biggest test yet (2).
The back line has been immaculate through five matches. Spain will throw everything at it.
Fan reactions
The nostalgia is real. One fan posted Spain–France from 2006 as their all-time favourite World Cup match. Another is already dreaming of a France–England final on the 250th anniversary of the USA: the country that opposed the revolution versus the one that helped it.
Sources
- 1. fussballnationalmannschaft.net — Frankreich gegen Spanien WM Spiel heute: Deschamps‘ Rekordspiel & der Traum vom dritten Finale in Serie
- 2. justarsenal.com — William Saliba helps France maintain superb defensive record