Coach Doan Thi Kim Chi: 'Mbappe will lead France to the World Cup final'

Coach Doan Thi Kim Chi believes the first semifinal of the 2026 World Cup between France and Spain will be a top-tier tactical battle, where practical determination and Kylian Mbappe's goal-scoring instinct will determine who advances.

In the early hours of July 15, the first semifinal of the 2026 World Cup between France and Spain will officially kick off. This is not only a clash between two of the world's leading football nations but also a fateful showdown between Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal, two stars who are well acquainted from their numerous El Clásico encounters between Real Madrid and Barcelona.

From Coach Doan Thi Kim Chi's perspective, this encounter also carries symbolic significance, opening a new chapter in the race for the Ballon d'Or in the post-Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo era.

Anticipating a tense, tactical mind game, the former Vietnamese national team player analyzes: "Both France and Spain currently possess extremely strong squads, well-balanced across all lines, and are brimming with ambition to conquer the World Cup trophy.

For France, the pain of missing out on the championship four years ago will serve as the ultimate motivation to reclaim the throne.

Meanwhile, Spain, under the guidance of coach Luis de la Fuente, has shown impressive squad depth and a high ability to make game-changing substitutions.

Regarding the match dynamics, I predict France will take the initiative to push high and play dominantly, aiming to strike early within the first 15 minutes to secure an advantage, before dropping back to execute their trademark counter-attacking strategy.

If "Les Bleus" score early, Spain will be forced to push forward, exposing deadly gaps at the back. Conversely, if Spain hold firm in the opening minutes, they will gradually regain control and impose their game.

However, the Spanish players will certainly avoid overcommitting their defense, as they are fully aware of the danger posed by the speed of Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembélé in transition situations.

The former Vietnamese women's football star also highlighted potential tactical adjustments in the second half: "This is a do-or-die knockout match, so no one wants to make a mistake. Both teams will have to carefully calculate when to push forward and when to slow the tempo.

It is likely that France will repeat their early surge at the start of the second half, then retreat to lie in wait. Spain will have certainly studied ways to contain Mbappe, especially since the striker showed signs of injury and had to leave the pitch early in the previous match.

However, I still rate France's chances higher. Lamine Yamal, despite his explosiveness, will be tightly monitored by France's defensive system. I believe the match will be decided within 90 minutes, with a 1-0 victory for France thanks to a moment of brilliance from Mbappe.

A win will take them to the final, where they could potentially meet Argentina again to settle an old score."