Kylian Mbappe fit for Spain World Cup semifinal, says France coach Deschamps

France is ready for their World Cup semifinal clash with Spain, with coach Didier Deschamps confirming Kylian Mbappe's full availability.

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Spain can apply a lot of pressure, but we are also a team who need the ball. There will be a battle for control.

Deschamps emphasized that France will not simply cede possession to Spain, despite their reputation for dominating the ball. "Spain can apply a lot of pressure, but we are also a team who need the ball," he said. "There will be a battle for control." He rejected the notion that France would adopt a purely defensive strategy, aiming instead to compete for the ball.

Midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery echoed this sentiment, highlighting France's versatility. "Spain have great quality on the ball," he noted. "We have the qualities to attack quickly on the counter, to keep possession ourselves and to defend well." He added that the game's flow would dictate their approach.

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Spain have great quality on the ball. We have the qualities to attack quickly on the counter, to keep possession ourselves and to defend well. The course of the game will dictate things.

France's midfield has been bolstered by the return of Aurelien Tchouameni, who missed previous matches with a hamstring issue. While not fully recovered, Deschamps confirmed he is available for selection. Tchouameni's presence provides a natural holding midfielder to protect the defense and help France navigate Spain's pressure.

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Kylian is fine.

Kylian Mbappe, who suffered a minor ankle injury, also trained and is expected to play. Deschamps downplayed the injury, stating, "Kylian is fine." The coach also indicated that other midfield configurations, such as using Manu Kone alongside Adrien Rabiot, remain options.

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His last game was two weeks ago, but that is not prohibitive. The important thing is that he is available.