World Cup 2026: France Confident Ahead of the Final Match

Speaking to the media, young midfielder Warren Zaïre-Emery said that his first knockout-stage match at a World Cup was an unforgettable experience. Meanwhile, Ousmane Dembélé highlighted that reaching the semifinals for three consecutive World Cups is a remarkable achievement, but the team does not intend to stop there and is now focused on the final in the United States on July 19.

Evaluating their next opponent, captain Kylian Mbappé stated that he is not overly concerned whether France faces Spain or Belgium in the semifinals, with his top priority being physical recovery. This view was echoed by Dembélé and Zaïre-Emery, who agreed that the most important thing is to focus on improving themselves rather than worrying too much about the opposition.

The French players also acknowledged that the team still has shortcomings to address. Dembélé believes that "Les Bleus" need to improve both their defense and attack, enhance finishing efficiency, organize pressing better, and minimize goals conceded. The Paris Saint-Germain forward is confident the team will progress further as the tournament enters its decisive phase.

According to the sports daily L'Équipe, while France is highly regarded for its solidity, the team still needs to refine its play, particularly in capitalizing on set-piece situations and crosses from the flanks. However, keeping clean sheets in all three knockout matches indicates that the defensive system is operating increasingly effectively.

The most notable point is Mbappé's cautiousness when discussing the current strength of the team. The French captain believes this could be the most talented squad he has ever been part of, but he cannot yet consider it the strongest team because they have not won any titles.

Mbappé emphasized that potential does not equal victory. According to him, the French team is fully aware of its capabilities and confident enough to compete for the championship, but they still need to prove themselves with results on the pitch if they want to be recognized as one of the best teams in the world.

According to L'Équipe, the combination of confidence and a progressive mindset is creating a positive atmosphere within the French team. This is seen as a key foundation for "Les Bleus" to pursue their ambition of reaching the World Cup final for the second consecutive time and taking another step in their quest for the global golden trophy.