France put past behind them as history beckons against Spain

DALLAS, July 12 : France are one victory from extending one of the most extraordinary eras of World Cup dominance, with a third successive final and a fifth appearance in the showpiece match in eight tournaments within reach when they face Spain on Tuesday.

To get there, Didier Deschamps’s side must overcome the team who have repeatedly blocked their path in recent years and whose defence has been breached only once at this tournament.

Spain, who have had a see-saw progression here, eliminated France in the Euro 2024 semi-finals and beat them again in a nine-goal Nations League thriller last year, but this time Les Bleus arrive with the competition’s two most prolific forwards - Kylian Mbappe on eight goals and Ousmane Dembele on five - and a much more balanced team.

There is considerable continuity between the teams who met in Munich two years ago, when Spain recovered from Randal Kolo Muani’s early header to win 2-1 with goals from Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo.

Seven of the players who started for France that night could again be in the line-up in Dallas, but the resemblance largely ends there.

France arrived at the Euro 2024 semi-final as a team still searching for fluency.

Mbappe had been hampered by the fractured nose he suffered in their opening game, Antoine Griezmann was struggling to impose himself and the side had reached the last four despite failing to score freely from open play.

DIFFERENT FOUNDATION

Their progress in the United States has been built on a very different foundation.

Mbappe and Dembele have scored 13 goals between them, Michael Olise has provided invention and control between the lines while Bradley Barcola and Desire Doue have offered another explosive option either from the start or off the bench.

Franc