The France midfielder Warren Zaïre-Emery says his team want to exact revenge on Spain and banish painful memories of their exit in the Euro 2024 semi-final.
France and Spain meet again on Tuesday in search of a place in the World Cup final, an even more glittering prize than the one Luis de la Fuente’s team grabbed two years ago. Back then Spain were worthy winners in Munich but a revitalised France have turned their fortunes around, blazing a trail to the last four with some scintillating attacking football.
“We have a different team, to my mind,” Zaïre-Emery said. “We are ready. We want to win against Spain and get our revenge for the Euros. We’re going to have to be focused. It’s a semi-final and that’s what we’re going to do, we’re going to deliver tomorrow.”
Zaïre-Emery was an unused member of the 2024 squad but made his major tournament debut in France’s quarter-final win over Morocco on Wednesday. He offered a mild rebuke to the former Spain prime minister Mariano Rajoy, who has been accused of racism by saying the France team “does not have any French players”, but said he had not read his comments.
“This French team has players from different backgrounds and origins, and that’s what makes France,” Zaïre-Emery said. “We are a united group, we are happy to be together, and that’s all that matters.”
Didier Deschamps may make one change to the lineup that comfortably overcame Morocco, drafting Aurélien Tchouaméni in for the impressive Manu Koné if the Real Madrid player is deemed fit after a muscle injury.
Tchouaméni has missed the last two games but Deschamps said the defensive midfielder is now available for selection. He also allayed any fears that Kylian Mbappé, who sustained an ankle knock against Morocco and sat out the final part of Monday’s training session, would be a doubt for the semi-final. “Yes, he trained,” Deschamps confirmed of Mbappe. “He is allowed to do 10 minutes in one drill instead of 15.”
During the weekend Deschamps had dubbed Spain favourites for the tie and he doubled down on that assessment. “I confirm it,” he said. “Forget about the first game against Cape Verde. Ever since then Spain have confirmed that they are the favourites.
“I don’t want to add extra pressure to Luis and their team. He knows very well that people are expecting greatly of Spain. We know this could be a spectacular game between two teams with great quality offensively, but Luis and myself know how to defend well.”
Unlike Zaïre-Emery, the head coach played down any idea that his team must get their own back on Spain. As well as the Euro 2024 encounter, they were beaten 5-4 in a chaotic Nations League semi-final last June, but he expects a clean slate in Dallas.
“There is no lesson to be learned,” Deschamps said. “It will be a battle of wills. There’s no revenge, the past is in the past. I’m focused on tomorrow’s match. If it motivates the players, all the better. I don’t want to diminish the importance of those two games but this is a World Cup semi-final.”
