France and Spain Face Off in Blockbuster World Cup Semis with Unbeaten Records

France and Spain are set to put their unblemished records on the line as they lock horns at the AT&T Stadium—home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys—for the blockbuster opening semifinal of the FIFA World Cup on Tuesday, with a coveted spot in Sunday’s final awaiting the victor.  

Both European powerhouses are making their 17th World Cup appearances and share the unique distinction of having never trailed in any match throughout the tournament. 

Top-ranked France enters the fixture having netted 14 goals while conceding only twice. Spearheaded by captain Kylian Mbappé—who shares the tournament's scoring lead alongside Argentina's Lionel Messi with eight goals—Les Bleus carry immense momentum. 

Mbappé, 27, boasts 20 goals in 20 World Cup matches and sits just one goal shy of matching Messi's all-time tournament career record of 21 goals. Coach Didier Deschamps confirmed that his star forward is fully fit after scoring and playing 77 minutes in the quarterfinal win over Morocco.  

"We are confident because of the journey we have had so far, but we also want to remain humble, which has defined us since the start of the tournament," France midfielder Adrien Rabiot stated.  

Spain counters with 19-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal, who celebrated his birthday on Monday. 

The young winger previously scored against France during Spain's 2-1 semifinal triumph at the 2024 European Championship and featured in their 5-4 UEFA Nations League win last year. 

Despite battling back from a left hamstring injury that disrupted his club campaign with Barcelona, Yamal has registered 10 shots on target in the tournament.  

"I think if France has to fear anyone, it should be us. We were the team that eliminated them before," Yamal remarked after defeating Belgium. 

He added on Monday, "This is the biggest match I have ever played. The best birthday gift would be reaching the final."

Responding to his Barcelona club-teammate's remarks, France defender Jules Koundé insisted he was unbothered, noting, "He always believes in himself and in the team he plays for. That's simply extra motivation for him."

La Roja has tightened up significantly since opening their campaign with a scoreless draw against Cape Verde, scoring 10 goals and letting in only one.

Arsenal forward Mikel Merino has stepped up as a clutch performer, netting late winners against Portugal in the round of 16 and Belgium in the quarterfinals. 

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Unai Simón strung together a remarkable 650 scoreless World Cup minutes before Belgium broke through in the 41st minute of the last-eight clash.  

Spain midfielder Alex Baena credited the squad's cohesion for their trajectory: "From the first game until now, we've gradually found our rhythm. The more we have played and trained together, the stronger we have become."  

The stakes extend deep into the history books. 

For the first time since 1990, all four semifinalists are previous tournament champions. 

The winner of Tuesday's match will meet the victor of Wednesday's showdown between defending champion Argentina and England. 

Playing on Bastille Day, France aims to become only the third nation—following Brazil and Germany—to reach three consecutive World Cup finals. 

Historically, the two sides have met just once before in the global showcase, with France securing a 3-1 victory in the 2006 round of 16 in Germany, though both nations have captured World Cup trophies since.  

Tuesday's marquee matchup also marks the ninth and final World Cup fixture hosted at AT&T Stadium, setting the record for the most matches played at any single venue during the tournament. 

The venue has played host to historic milestones over the past month, including Lionel Messi breaking records with his 20th and 21st career World Cup goals, and Cristiano Ronaldo making his final global appearance during Portugal's round-of-16 exit against Spain.  

Source: AP