France will not willingly surrender possession to Spain, coach Didier Deschamps said, with Aurelien Tchouameni available again as the teams prepare for a potentially decisive battle in midfield.
Spain have built their run to the last four around their ability to dominate the ball, press opponents deep into their own half and control the rhythm of matches.
France possess the pace to hurt them on the break, but Deschamps rejected the idea that his side would be content merely to defend and wait for transitions.
“Spain can apply a lot of pressure, but we are also a team who need the ball,” Deschamps told reporters on Monday.
“There will be a battle for control.”
Midfielder Warren Zaïre-Emery said France’s range of qualities gave them several ways to approach the contest.
“Spain have great quality on the ball,” he said.
“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. I cannot say now exactly how the match will unfold.”
Having Tchouameni available could be key for France, with the Real Madrid midfielder recovering from a hamstring complaint.
Tchouameni’s presence would give France a natural holding midfielder capable of protecting the defence, competing physically and helping the team play through Spain’s pressure.
However. Tchouameni is still not 100 per cent fit, so Deschamps could retain the midfield configuration that carried France past Morocco, with Manu Koné alongside Adrien Rabiot. Zaïre-Emery provides another option in an area likely to determine whether Spain can impose their familiar rhythm.
Spain’s possession game is designed not only to create openings but also to exhaust opponents by shifting the ball repeatedly from one side to the other.
So let’s check and see who is going to line up for the two teams shall we?
– with Reuters
