France, Spain Collide in Blockbuster World Cup Semifinal

Mbappe and Yamal headline Dallas showdown as Deschamps predicts a 'spectacular' clash

France meet Spain on Tuesday in Dallas for a place in the World Cup final, a semifinal pitting Kylian Mbappe against 18-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal in what both camps are calling one of the tournament's marquee matchups.

The winner advances to the final in New York, capping a World Cup in which FIFA's new seeding system placed the tournament's top teams in opposite halves of the knockout bracket, according to NPR, ensuring the final four produced two heavyweight ties.

France coach Didier Deschamps predicted a "spectacular" semifinal against Spain, according to BBC Sport, and said his side would be at full strength for a difficult midfield battle against the European champions. "Kylian is fine," Deschamps said, according to Al Jazeera, addressing questions about Mbappe's fitness heading into the match.

Yamal, meanwhile, said before the game that France should fear Spain — comments teammate Jules Koundé defended Monday as showing no "lack of respect," according to ESPN. Al Jazeera reported Yamal is hoping for a special birthday present: the young star turns 19 around the time of the match and wants to celebrate by leading Spain into the final.

Both teams arrived in the semifinal after scoring freely throughout the tournament, according to goal recaps published by BBC Sport charting each side's run to Dallas. Journalists and fans from all four World Cup semifinalists, surveyed by BBC Sport, were divided on who would ultimately lift the trophy, a reflection of how tightly matched the remaining contenders are considered to be heading into the final week of the tournament.

— Compiled from reporting by BBC Sport, NPR, Al Jazeera and ESPN.