Barcelona defender Jules Koundé has stated that France cannot afford to spend the entire 90 minutes chasing the ball in tonight’s FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final matchup against Spain.
This marks only the second World Cup encounter between France and Spain, following their round of 16 clash in 2006, where Les Bleus came from behind to secure a 3-1 victory.
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France earned their place in the semi-finals with a 2-0 win over Morocco, while Spain advanced after defeating Belgium 2-1 in the quarter-finals.
While recognizing Spain's historical prowess in maintaining possession, he emphasized that France also aims to control the ball to disrupt their opponents' flow and prevent them from exploiting dangerous areas.
“We are two highly offensive teams,” remarked Koundé.
“Spain has traditionally played a possession-oriented game, though they can also pose a threat on the break.
“We are comfortable with the ball too, but we know how to adapt and capitalize on transitions when opportunities arise.
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“We will need to maintain possession, because against Spain, spending ninety minutes chasing the ball is not an option.
“If you do that, you’re bound to find yourself exposed and struggling.”
France aims to become just the third team in World Cup history to reach three consecutive finals, joining Germany in 1982, 1986, and 1990, and Brazil in 1994, 1998, and 2002.
