Didier Deschamps is out here calling Spain the favorites for the World Cup 2026 semi-final against his own France squad, and honestly, the soccer world is buzzing trying to figure out what he's thinking. France, you know, they're the top-ranked team globally, and everyone's been saying they're the best team in the whole tournament so far.
Is Deschamps Playing Mind Games With That Favorite Pick?
But Deschamps isn't backing down from his position, even though France has scored five more goals than Spain and absolutely cleaned up, winning all of their games. He's been claiming Spain are the likeliest winners this entire World Cup, and he doubled down, explaining, "If you see what Spain have done in the first match against Cape Verde [a 0-0 draw], forget about that, but in the rest Spain confirmed they are the favourite." The dude is laying it on thick, saying he doesn't want to add extra pressure to Luis de la Fuente and their team, but he knows people are expecting big things. He brings up that Spain won Euro 2024, beating France in the semi-finals, and then they smacked Deschamps' side again in last year's Nations League. So yeah, there's history. Spain's defense is also stout, only conceding one goal, and they "can attack and defend very well." Is this some mind game? Or does Deschamps really believe it?Mbappe Is Greenlighted, But Tchouameni Is A Midfield Headache
The good news for France fans: Kylian Mbappe is totally fine. He came off in the quarter-final win over Morocco with some ice on his ankle, but he said after the match he was good to go. Deschamps confirmed today, "He trained today," and has no concerns about his captain. That's huge, because Mbappe has eight goals in this World Cup, leading the charge. He's going to be fit to start. The real head-scratcher for Deschamps is in midfield with Aurelien Tchouameni. The Real Madrid player is back from a groin problem and available. He was a sub against Morocco, but Deschamps played it safe then, saying it was too great a gamble. Now, Tchouameni "is better today," but Deschamps admitted, "I am not going to say he has been 100 percent cured. The last game he played was two weeks ago but it does not mean anything." It's a tough call for the gaffer. Even with these tactical decisions, Deschamps is predicting a "spectacular game" in Dallas, noting the offensive quality of both teams despite how well he and Luis know how to defend. So, get ready for a showdown in Dallas. This semi-final is shaping up to be absolutely wild, with Deschamps stirring the pot big time by calling Spain the favorites. France needs to prove him wrong, or maybe he's just playing 4D chess. Either way, you gotta tune in to see if France can keep their perfect record going and make it to the final, or if Spain will live up to Deschamps' surprising hype.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.