France and Spain meet in the World Cup semi‑final in Qatar, with a place in the final at stake against either Argentina or England.
French coach Didier Deschamps has announced that winger Bradley Barcola and midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni will return to the starting XI after missing recent matches due to injury and tactical rotation.
Desire Doue, who had started the previous group game, will be relegated to the bench, allowing Barcola to feature in attack.
Spain, under manager Luis de la Fuente, will line up with the same eleven that faced Switzerland, keeping the midfield trio of Fabian Ruiz, Rodri and Dani Olmo intact.
Up front, Spain will rely on Alex Baena, the teenage sensation Lamine Yamal and veteran Mikel Oyarzabal to provide firepower.
Road to the Final
The winners of this semi‑final will advance to a showdown with the victor of the other half of the draw, where Argentina and England are the remaining contenders.
Both squads are aware that a single mistake could shift the balance, making tactical discipline and execution crucial in the final minutes.
Fans worldwide will be watching closely as emerging talents such as Pedri, Jules Kounde, Dayot Upamecano and William Saliba are tested in defense.
Goalkeeper Mike Maignan is expected to start between the posts for France, while Spain's Unai Simon will wear the gloves for the Iberian side.
Defensive lineups will feature experienced players like Jules Kounde, Dayot Upamecano, William Saliba and Lucas Digne, while Spain's back line includes Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsi and Aymeric Laporte.
The match promises a clash of youth and experience, with France's star forward Kylian Mbappe leading the attack alongside Adrien Rabiot and Michael Olise, while Spain's midfield depth includes Rodri and Dani Olmo.