Deschamps: 'The real favorite to advance is Spain, not France'

Ahead of the World Cup semifinal clash between France and Spain, national team coach Didier Deschamps has strategically placed the favorite tag on their Iberian rivals. Deschamps characterized Spain as the "real favorite" for qualification, a move seemingly designed to alleviate the pressure on his own squad.

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We know Spain well, they are the current European champions, we played against them last summer in the Nations League semifinal... they considered us favorites before the World Cup, but Spain is the favorite.

"We know Spain well, they are the current European champions," Deschamps stated, recalling their previous encounters, including a Nations League semifinal last summer. He noted that while Spain lost that final to Portugal, they remain a formidable team with numerous strengths. This acknowledgment serves to highlight Spain's pedigree and recent successes.

Deschamps emphasized that Spain carries the greater pressure due to their accomplishments and expectations. "This puts more pressure on them because of all they have done," he remarked. He also pointed out that reaching the World Cup semifinal represents an "extremely high" level of competition, underscoring the significance of the upcoming match for both nations.

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This puts more pressure on them because of all they have done, even though they lost the final to Portugal in that Nations League final, but they are a very good team with many strengths.

The semifinal is scheduled for Tuesday evening, with the winner advancing to the tournament's final. Deschamps' comments suggest a tactical approach to the game, aiming to leverage Spain's perceived favorite status while preparing his French team for a high-stakes encounter.

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But above all, it is the first World Cup semifinal and the level is already extremely high.