France coach Didier Deschamps has stated that Spain remains his top pick to win the 2026 World Cup, ahead of the highly anticipated semi-final clash between the two teams on Tuesday evening.
During the press conference held the day before the match, Deschamps confirmed, when asked if Spain is the favorite: "Yes, I stand by what I said earlier; Spain is the favorite to win the World Cup."
The French coach added: "I don’t want to put extra pressure on Luis de la Fuente and his team, but he knows well the expectations in his country."
Deschamps praised Spain's defensive strength, noting that they have conceded only one goal in seven matches, while emphasizing that both teams possess significant attacking quality that could make the match open and exciting.
He explained: "Luis de la Fuente and I always think about good defense, but considering the attacking capabilities of both teams, we can expect a spectacular and enjoyable match."
The French coach had previously stated before his team's tournament opener against Senegal that he does not consider France stronger than all competitors, asserting then: "The biggest contender is Spain, and I have no doubt about that."
Regarding the readiness of Tchouaméni and Mbappé: "Tchouaméni is not 100% ready yet, but he is improving. His absence for 15 days does not change anything for us. The World Cup semi-final is a match you cannot miss; he will definitely participate, while Mbappé is ready and has trained normally, and he will certainly play."
When asked if they are focused on avenging their last two losses to Spain: "What happened is in the past, and there is no room for talk of revenge. This is a semi-final match, and a spot in the final is at stake. I do not underestimate the previous two matches, but this is about a place in the final. And there is only one spot available."
He concluded: "This is the third semi-final match we are playing against Spain; I hope we do not make silly mistakes, but football is always full of uncertainties, and we must prepare for whatever may happen."
