France defenders Maxence Lacroix and Ibrahima Konaté have downplayed concerns about facing Lamine Yamal in Tuesday’s World Cup semi-final against Spain, insisting Les Bleus possess the defensive quality to neutralise the Barcelona forward and progress to the final.
The teenage winger has emerged as one of the tournament’s most dangerous attacking threats, earning widespread praise for his performances as La Roja advanced to the last four. Yamal’s recent suggestion that France should fear their opponents prompted the defensive pair to address the media at the team’s base camp in Waltham, Massachusetts on Saturday, offering a confident assessment of their capabilities.
Lacroix rejected the notion that France are intimidated by the 17-year-old’s form. “I wouldn’t say that we’re scared,” he stated. “We’re aware of our qualities.” He acknowledged that Spain possess a strong squad who have performed well throughout the competition, highlighting France’s defensive solidity in response. “I think we’ll do the job,” he added confidently.
Konaté, who started in the nine-goal thriller against Spain that ended in French defeat last year, urged caution against concentrating solely on Yamal despite the youngster’s obvious talent. “Honestly, that’s not what we’re thinking about,” he explained. He described Spain as an exceptional side with abundant quality throughout their ranks, insisting that the team would not focus on one individual. “It’s not just Lamine, it’s the whole team,” he said.
Defensive preparations
Head coach Didier Deschamps monitored his key personnel carefully during weekend preparations ahead of the crucial semi-final. Starting centre-backs William Saliba and Dayot Upamecano were both absent from Saturday’s session as the coaching staff managed their respective workloads amid minor physical concerns.
The potential availability of both players remains crucial for Deschamps, who relies on their established partnership to provide stability at the back. The absences appear precautionary rather than indicative of serious injury setbacks, with both defenders expected to be available for selection when the team submits its final squad. France held two training sessions over the weekend following a scheduled rest day, maintaining their competitive rhythm before facing a Spanish side that has demonstrated impressive attacking fluency throughout the tournament.
Travel and timeline
Les Bleus are scheduled to fly to Dallas on Sunday afternoon, relocating to Texas ahead of Tuesday’s semi-final showdown. The winners will advance to the World Cup final, where they will face the victors of the other semi-final between Argentina and Croatia.
The match represents a significant opportunity for France to reach the final and challenge for the trophy, though they must first overcome a Spanish team that defeated them in their previous encounter. Konaté’s experience from that high-scoring defeat last year may prove valuable as Deschamps’ side seeks to impose their defensive organisation and tactical discipline against Luis de la Fuente’s dynamic outfit.