Spanish press puts faith in Yamal magic as Mbappé's France enter World Cup semi-final as the team 'most feared'

The favourite versus the hopeful

As the first World Cup semi-final approaches, French press and players project a calm, unified front. Le Monde reports that after Ousmane Dembélé scored the second goal in the 2-0 quarter-final win over Morocco, he immediately gestured for the starting eleven to celebrate with the substitutes. The piece frames the moment as emblematic of a squad where, in Dembélé's words, "it is in the DNA of this group to be united." Coach Didier Deschamps, whose team is chasing a third consecutive World Cup final appearance, has built a side that Spanish daily El País describes as "the most feared thanks to its offensive arsenal," having "crushed all its encounters" so far.

It is in the DNA of this group to be united.

Spanish media: 'We have a feeling'

Across the Pyrenees, the tone on the morning of the match mixes respect for French power with a strong current of optimism. Madrid sports daily Marca splashes the phrase "We have a feeling" across its front page, calling France a "footballing colossus" armed with Mbappé, Michael Olise and Dembélé, but presenting Lamine Yamal as a "guarantee against the Gallic team." Barcelona's Mundo Deportivo labels the clash a "first final" and concedes that "Les Bleus, led by Mbappé, are favourites against a Spain that trusts in the magic of Yamal." Sport runs a smiling photo of the Barça winger with the headline "Let's go for the final!" and assures readers that Yamal arrives "in top form and ready to make history."

We have a feeling.

Les Bleus, led by Mbappé, are favourites against a Spain that trusts in the magic of Yamal.

The weight of recent history

Spanish confidence is not built on hope alone. Several outlets point to two recent victories over France. Le Figaro and Courrier international both detail the record: a 2-1 win at Euro 2024, and a wild 5-4 victory in the 2025 Nations League in which Spain led 5-1. Super Deporte features a photo of Yamal's spectacular goal from that Euro 2024 meeting, while Estadio Deportivo runs the headline "Do it again," reminding readers that Luis de la Fuente's men are chasing a third straight win over the Mbappé-led side. Belgium's RTBF quotes analyst Swann Borsellino, who cautions that the two previous wins may carry "a mental value," but that the teams have evolved and "the cards are truly reshuffled and balanced" now.

Do it again.

A duel of styles and star men

The match is being framed as a contrast in approaches. RTBF's Borsellino notes Spain "defends by having the ball" while France relies more on individual defensive quality, singling out Dayot Upamecano's tournament form in one-on-ones. But the narrative is dominated by the two attacking figureheads. El País contrasts a France that is a "complete and consistent team from day one" with a Spain that "trusts in the magic of Yamal." Le Figaro's review of European press finds a widespread expectation that "Kylian Mbappé is superior to Lamine Yamal" and that the match will be a "symbolic final," though the paper's own question-of-the-day column rejects calling it a final before the fact, calling that idea "presumptuous" and "disrespectful" to the Argentina-England semi-finalists.

The Deschamps team, a finalist in the last two World Cups and champion in 2018, approaches its penultimate match as the most feared team thanks to its offensive arsenal.

The ghost of 2006 and a nation on pause

A historical echo hangs over the pre-match chatter. Several Spanish outlets recall that in 2006, the Spanish press talked of putting Zinédine Zidane into retirement, a strategy that backfired when a motivated France beat Spain. Borsellino tells RTBF he is "torn" by the memory and not convinced that current Spanish confidence will motivate French players further, calling it "fair game." Courrier international captures the atmosphere on both sides of the border by noting that the 21:00 kick-off is "one of those appointments that brings an entire country to a halt" from one side of the Pyrenees to the other. The winner will face either Argentina or England in the final five days later.