‘We have a different team’: Revenge from Euro exit drives France ahead of Spain semi-final | 2026 World Cup

France midfielder Warren Zaïre-Emery says his side want revenge against Spain and erase the painful memories of their Euro 2024 semi-final exit.

France and Spain meet again on Tuesday in pursuit of a place in the World Cup finals, a far more prestigious prize than the one won by Luis de la Fuente’s side two years ago. At the time Spain were the rightful champions in Munich but a resurgent France turned their fortunes around, paving the way to the last four with some attacking football.

“We have a different team, in my mind,” said Zaïre-Emery. “We are ready. We want to win against Spain and take revenge in the Euros. We will have to focus. It is a semi-final and that is what we will do, we will play tomorrow.”

Zaïre-Emery was an unused member of the 2024 squad but made his competitive debut in France’s quarter-final win over Morocco on Wednesday. He gave a small rebuke to former Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy, who has been accused of racism by saying the French team “doesn’t have French players”, but said he had not read his comments.

“This French team has players from different backgrounds and backgrounds, and that’s what makes France,” said Zaïre-Emery. “We’re a united team, we’re happy to be together, and that’s all that matters.”

Didier Deschamps could make one change to the line-up that comfortably beat Morocco, writes Aurélien Tchouaméni for the impressive Manu Koné if the Real Madrid player is deemed fit after a hamstring injury.

Chouaméni has missed the last two games, but Deschamps said the midfielder is available for selection. He also eased any fears that Kylian Mbappé, who sprained his ankle against Morocco and sat out the final part of Monday’s training session, could be a doubt for the semi-finals. “Yes, he trained,” Deschamps assured Mbappe. “You are allowed to do 10 minutes in one place instead of 15.”

At the weekend, Deschamps named Spain as favorites for the game and doubled down on that assessment. “I assure you,” he said. “Forget about the first game we played against Cape Verde.

“I don’t want to put more pressure on Luis and his team. You know very well that people expect a lot from Spain. We know that this will be an amazing game between two teams with a high level of attack, but Luis and I can defend well.”

Unlike Zaïre-Emery, the head coach has played down any notion that his team must return to Spain. With Euro 2024 on the horizon, they were beaten 5-4 in a tumultuous United Nations semi-final last June, but expect a clean sweep in Dallas.

“There is no lesson we can learn,” said Deschamps. “It will be a battle of wills, no revenge, bygones be bygones.