France is not afraid of Spain going into its World Cup semifinal on Tuesday, defender Ibrahima Konate said on Sunday, but it is conscious of its opponent’s quality and near-perfect backline.
Spain has conceded only one goal in the entire tournament to reach the last four in search of a second World Cup title.
France, winner in 2018 and finalist four years ago, knows Spain very well, having lost to it in the Euro 2024 semifinals and also in last year’s Nations League semifinals.
“You cannot fear anyone,” France centre-back Konate told a press conference. “We will now prepare as best as possible and hope the result in the end will favour us.”
“Spain is an exceptional team, with a lot of individual quality, so we won’t be focusing on just one player even though Lamine (Yamal) is a great player,” said Konate, who had a brief substitute appearance in the win over Norway in France’s final group match.
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Dayot Upamecano and William Saliba have been France’s starting centre-backs as the tournament favourite eyes its fifth World Cup final.
The French has reached four of the last seven World Cup finals. Should it take part in the July 19 showdown in New York, it will sustain the comparison with West Germany, arguably the ultimate tournament nation with four finals between 1974 and 1990.
But Konate said France was not wasting any thoughts on what might be.
“We are staying humble, we won’t fall into that trap,” he said.
France will need to find a way to break down this World Cup’s most effective backline, as well as contain as much as possible Lamine’s runs down the wings.
Lamine Yamal has been one of the team’s key threats at the World Cup, forcing defenders out of position and creating space for teammates. | Photo Credit: REUTERS
“I would not say ‘fear’ but we are conscious of their quality,” said fellow France centre-back Maxence Lacroix. “They have won all their matches (except a 0-0 draw against Cape Verde in the group), so we respect them. They have high quality players but we want to win.”
Top of the list is Spain winger Lamine, who has earned praise from his coach for keeping opponent defenders busy as teammates use the spaces created.
“We will defend well, the best,” Lacroix said. “Lamine is a very good player and he has shown he can hurt teams at this World Cup. We will do the work that is needed.”
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Published on Jul 12, 2026