France ready to fight Spain for midfield control in World Cup semi-final

DALLAS: France will not willingly surrender possession to Spain in Tuesday’s (Jul 14) World Cup semi-final, coach Didier Deschamps said, with Aurelien Tchouameni available again as the teams prepare for a potentially decisive battle in midfield.

Spain have built their run to the last four around their ability to dominate the ball, press opponents deep into their own half and control the rhythm of matches.

France possess the pace to hurt them on the break, but Deschamps rejected the idea that his side would be content merely to defend and wait for transitions.

“Spain can apply a lot of pressure, but we are also a team who need the ball,” Deschamps told reporters on Monday. “There will be a battle for control.”

Midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery said France’s range of qualities gave them several ways to approach the contest.

“Spain have great quality on the ball,” he said. “We have the qualities to attack quickly on the counter, to keep possession ourselves and to defend well.

“The course of the game will dictate things. I cannot say now exactly how the match will unfold.”

France’s prospects of competing in the central areas have been strengthened by the return of Tchouameni, who last played in the 3-0 round of 32 victory over Sweden on June 30.

He missed the 1-0 win in the last 16 versus Paraguay and the 2-0 quarter-final victory over Morocco with a hamstring problem.

Deschamps said the 26-year-old Real Madrid midfielder had not yet fully recovered but was available for selection after being left out of the previous game as a precaution.

“For the last match, the risk was too high,” he said. “He is better today, although we cannot say he is 100 per cent recovered.

“His last game was two weeks ago, but that is not prohibitive. The