Spain trains with full squad in Dallas ahead of World Cup semifinal against France
Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Spain's national football team held its first training session in Dallas with all players available ahead of the World Cup semifinal against France.
- Coach Luis de la Fuente is considering lineup changes after successfully rotating players in previous matches.
- Despite France's strong offense, Spain boasts a solid defense, having conceded only one goal in the tournament.
The Spanish national football team has commenced preparations for their World Cup semifinal clash against France, holding their first full training session at Dallas's Cotton Bowl stadium. Coach Luis de la Fuente now has all players at his disposal as he strategizes for the crucial match scheduled for Tuesday.
De la Fuente has shown a willingness to adjust his starting lineup, having previously brought Fabiรกn Ruiz into the starting XI in place of Pedri against Belgium. This tactical flexibility suggests further changes could be made as Spain aims to overcome their formidable French opponents. France enters the semifinal boasting a potent offense, having scored 16 goals throughout the tournament, while Spain's defensive strength is highlighted by their record of conceding only a single goal.
The team appears to be peaking at the right moment, with players who experienced minor injuries now fully recovered and ready to contribute. A prime example is winger Nico Williams, who overcame an initial injury and subsequent discomfort to play 11 minutes in the quarter-final. Williams, celebrating his 24th birthday, participated fully in training and is expected to play a role, potentially as a substitute, as he works towards regaining his peak form after a season hampered by physical issues.
The best example is Nico Williams. The winger started the training camp injured, suffered discomfort again after a tackle from Nico de la Cruz in the last group stage match against Uruguay and against Belgium, in the quarterfinals, he returned to the field and played 11 minutes.
Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.