France head coach Didier Deschamps is predicting an “impressive” semi-final when his exciting side take on Spain in a World Heavyweight Championship clash in Dallas on Tuesday.
Spain beat France in the Euro 2024 semi-finals en route to the European title and then defeated Les Blais in a nine-goal, last-four thriller in the Nations League last year.
“The past is in the past,” said Deschamps, who is retiring at the end of the tournament after 14 years in charge.
“They (Spain) have won in the past, but I’m looking forward to tomorrow.
“We are on a different level now. We want to reach the final.”
Double world champions France will become only the third country to reach the World Cup final three times in a row if they win in Texas (kick-off at 20:00 Moscow time).
West Germany in 1982, 1986 and 1990 and Brazil in 1994, 1998 and 2002 are the only countries that have achieved this result so far.
Deschamps, who led France to the World Cup title in 1998, helped them to World Cup glory in 2018 before they lost on penalties to Argentina in the 2022 final in Qatar.
He said Spain would start the semi-final as favourites.
“They’ve only conceded one goal in six games,” Deschamps added.
“We know this could be the most entertaining game. (Spain coach) Luis (de la Fuente) and I know how to defend and given the quality of the two teams in attack, we can think it will be an entertaining game.”
De la Fuente later denied Deschamps’ claim that Spain were favourites.
“It doesn’t mean anything,” he said. “We are two great national teams facing each other.
“Whether we are favorites or not, this does not mean there is any further pressure on us. Either way, we have this pressure on us because we want to do well for our country.”