Kounde dismisses Yamal tension as France and Spain prepare for World Cup semi-final

By Chukwuemeka Umeh — 13 July 2026 — 3 min read

Barcelona teammates prepare for World Cup semi-final

Jules Kounde, a defender for France, has addressed comments made by his Barcelona teammate, Lamine Yamal, ahead of the World Cup semi-final match between France and Spain. Yamal had previously stated that France should fear Spain in their upcoming encounter. Kounde indicated that he did not perceive Yamal’s remarks as disrespectful, noting that he understands his club colleague’s mindset. He described Yamal’s statements as a sign of confidence and an additional motivation for the young player.

The semi-final match is scheduled to take place in Dallas. Yamal’s comments followed Spain’s 2-1 victory over Belgium in the quarter-finals, where he was named player of the match. He referenced Spain’s prior victories over France in the Euro 2024 semi-final and a Nations League clash from the previous year. Yamal maintained a defiant tone in the lead-up to the match, asserting that Spain fears no opponent and acknowledging both teams as top-level national sides.

French camp responds to Yamal’s comments

Ibrahima Konate, a new signing for Real Madrid and a member of the French squad, responded to Yamal’s remarks. Konate stated that the French team was not focused on such comments, emphasizing the importance of humility and avoiding distractions at this stage of the competition. He indicated that France’s preparations were solely concentrated on the match itself.

Beyond the verbal exchanges, Kounde highlighted the tactical challenges posed by Luis de la Fuente’s Spanish side. He acknowledged Spain’s reputation for controlling possession and suggested that France might need to adjust their typical approach. Kounde noted that France’s game plan often relies on defensive solidity and counter-attacks, but against Spain, they aim to have more possession to disrupt their rhythm. He stressed the difficulty of facing the three-time European champions, explaining that allowing Spain to maintain possession for the entire match would ultimately lead to them finding spaces and tiring out their opponents.

Combined XI features key players from both nations

Ahead of the semi-final, a combined best XI was assembled, featuring prominent players from both Spain and France. The formation for this combined team is a 4-2-3-1. In goal, Mike Maignan of France was selected over Simón, despite both goalkeepers having strong tournaments. Maignan has conceded two goals, while Simón had not conceded until the quarter-finals.

The defensive line includes Jules Kounde at right-back, chosen for his stability as a polished defender and his ability to contribute to the attack. The center-back pairing consists of Dayot Upamecano and William Saliba, both from France. Upamecano offers an athletic advantage, while Saliba was chosen over Aymeric Laporte, despite Laporte’s strong tournament for Spain. At left-back, Marc Cucurella of Spain was selected, recognized as one of the best left-backs globally, and recently completed a move to Real Madrid.

In the midfield, Rodri of Spain was chosen as the right central midfielder, recognized as a world-class player and a key composer for Spain throughout the tournament. Pedri, also from Spain, was selected as the left central midfielder, valued for his technical ability. Michael Olise of France occupies the central attacking midfield role, having a dominant tournament with five assists, approaching a World Cup record. Dani Olmo of Spain was also considered for this position, known for his line-breaking passes and runs into the box.

The attacking wingers include Lamine Yamal of Spain on the right, who is considered one of the best players globally despite his age. On the left wing, Ousmane Dembélé of France was selected. Dembélé has scored five goals in the tournament and was a pivotal player for PSG in their back-to-back Champions League titles. Leading the attack as the striker is Kylian Mbappé of France, who has scored eight goals in the tournament and has a total of 20 World Cup goals.

The combined XI for the semi-final match between France and Spain is: Mike Maignan, Jules Kounde, Dayot Upamecano, William Saliba, Marc Cucurella, Rodri, Pedri, Lamine Yamal, Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembélé, and Kylian Mbappé.

Source: goal.com