Two-time World Cup champions France will on Tuesday take on Spain, the reigning European champions and 2010 FIFA World Cup champions, in a match dubbed the “Clash of the Titans”.

It is the first semi-final fixture and one of the most anticipated matches of the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

France is aiming for a third consecutive World Cup final appearance, led by the attacking prowess of captain Kylian Mbappé.

Mbappé, as expected, has dominated the tournament, taking his performances to another level as he leads the scoring chart with eight goals and three assists.

He is a force to be reckoned with, and his brilliance has inspired teammates such as Ousmane Dembélé, the reigning FIFA World Player of the Year.

Together with Michael Olise, they have tormented opposing defences and given French fans the belief that 2026 could be their year.

France has been one of the standout teams at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

They reached the semi-finals with an unbeaten run and have looked strong in both attack and defence.

They defeated Senegal 3-1, Iraq 3-0 and Norway 4-1 to finish top of their group with three wins from three matches.

In the round of 32, France beat Sweden 3-0 before edging Paraguay 1-0 in the round of 16, with Mbappé converting a penalty.

In the quarter-finals, they defeated tournament favourites Morocco 2-0, thanks to goals from Mbappé and Dembélé, to advance to the semi-finals.

Mbappé and Dembélé have been among the tournament’s most dangerous attacking players.

Together, they have scored 13 goals, matching a World Cup record for a pair of teammates.

France’s next challenge is a blockbuster semi-final against Spain, with a place in the World Cup final at stake.

Similarly, Spain, the reigning European champions, have impressed with their possession-based football and the emergence of young stars such as Lamine Yamal.

While France has been the tournament’s highest-scoring side, Spain has combined strong defensive performances with midfield dominance.

Spain has also been one of the standout teams at the World Cup, reaching the semi-finals for the first time since winning the tournament in 2010.

They finished top of Group H, defeating Uruguay 1-0, thrashing Saudi Arabia 4-0 and playing out a goalless draw against a resilient Cabo Verde side.

They maintained their impressive form by crushing Austria 3-0 in the round of 32.

They defeated Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal 1-0 in a keenly contested and thrilling round-of-16 encounter, courtesy of a late winner from Mikel Merino.

Spain eliminated Belgium 2-1 in the quarter-finals, with Merino once again scoring the decisive late goal.

So far, Spain has conceded only one goal on the way to the semi-finals, making them one of the tournament’s strongest defensive teams.

They joined Argentina, France and England as the four top-ranked nations to reach the semi-finals, marking a historic first since the FIFA World Rankings were introduced.

Spain’s clash against the highly rated France promises to be a fascinating semi-final, with a place in the World Cup final at stake.

It is expected to be a mouth-watering tactical battle between France’s pace on the counter-attack and Spain’s patient possession game.

Meanwhile, as football fans across the globe eagerly await the encounter, supporters in Lagos are equally excited.

Femi Oshisami, a trader, said he was confident Spain would eliminate France because of his passion for Spanish football, which he considers superior to the French style.

He believes Spain is hungry for another major title after winning the current European Championship and looks capable of repeating the feat at the World Cup.

“It is going to be very explosive, a match to behold, and I am confident Spain will win at the end,” Mr Oshisami said.

Similarly, Emeka Chukwura said he is a big fan of Mbappé and believes France is unstoppable because the team possesses the quality to break down any opposition in the competition.

“I have my money on France. They have a great team with players of different qualities who are basically world-class.

“They are aiming for a third consecutive appearance in the final, which is a credit to their hard work and consistency,” Mr Chukwura said.

Yussuf Tijani, a shoe cobbler, said the World Cup has been very interesting and highly competitive.

He said he was heartbroken when the African teams were eliminated, but still supports France because of the presence of players of African descent in the squad.

“I believe France will beat Spain to reach the final. They are a good team and have the capability to handle any kind of pressure,” Mr Tijani said.

(NAN)