France and Spain meet in Dallas on Tuesday, 14 July, with a place in the FIFA World Cup final on the line and the semi-final carrying the feel of the tournament’s defining matchup. Both sides have reached the last four without trailing at any stage of the competition, and both arrive after quarter-final wins that reinforced the qualities that have driven them through the bracket: France’s attacking force and Spain’s control, structure and defensive discipline.

The occasion is significant for both camps. France are trying to reach a third consecutive World Cup final after lifting the trophy in 2018 and finishing runners-up in 2022. Spain, champions in 2010, are back in the semi-finals for only the third time in their history and are chasing a return to the final for the first time since South Africa. The only previous World Cup meeting between the nations came in the round of 16 in 2006, when France won 3-1.

France have built their run on a six-match winning streak. They topped Group I with victories over Senegal, Iraq and Norway, then beat Sweden in the round of 32, Paraguay in the last 16 and Morocco 2-0 in the quarter-finals. Spain won Group H after drawing with Cabo Verde and beating Saudi Arabia and Uruguay, before knocking out Austria, Portugal and Belgium, edging the Belgians 2-1 in the last eight.

The quarter-finals sharpened the shape of this contest. France’s win over Morocco again highlighted the variety in Didier Deschamps’ front line, with Kylian Mbappe scoring in Boston before going off in the 77th minute. Spain needed patience and precision against Belgium, with Fabian Ruiz and then Mikel Merino scoring in a 2-1 victory that booked the meeting with France.

That sets up the central theme of the game: the tournament’s most productive attack against its meanest defence. France have scored 16 goals in six matches and have generated the highest attacking numbers in the competition, with Mbappe leading the line of threat. The captain has eight goals at this World Cup and has also supplied three assists, while Ousmane Dembele has added five goals and Michael Olise has emerged as France’s chief creator, topping the assist rankings with five. Even beyond that trio, France have carried depth and pace in wide areas, giving Deschamps multiple ways to attack either in transition or against a set defence.

Spain’s answer has been control. Luis de la Fuente’s side have conceded only once in six matches, have averaged 66 per cent possession and have allowed remarkably little clean sight of goal. Their structure has been anchored by Rodri in midfield, with Unai Simon behind a settled defensive unit that has included Aymeric Laporte, Pau Cubarsi and Marc Cucurella throughout the run. Spain’s ability to keep opponents away from central areas has been one of the major tactical stories of the tournament, and it will be tested more severely here than at any previous stage.

Among the individual duels, Mbappe against Pedro Porro and the wider Spanish defensive cover is the obvious headline. France will look to isolate Mbappe in space whenever Spain push full-backs high, and his acceleration remains the single most dangerous weapon in the match. On the opposite flank, Dembele’s movement against Cucurella and the support channel around Laporte could be just as decisive, especially if France can switch play quickly and force Spain’s back line to defend facing its own goal.

Spain’s most intriguing matchup comes through the right side of their attack, where Lamine Yamal is likely to test Lucas Digne and the French left channel. Yamal, still only 18 on the day of the semi-final, has been one of the tournament’s most watched attacking talents even with only one goal so far, and his ability to receive wide before driving infield gives Spain a direct route to unsettle France’s shape. France, however, have paired attacking quality with a centre-back partnership capable of defending large spaces, and Dayot Upamecano’s reading of danger could be crucial if Yamal starts combining inside with Dani Olmo or Pedri.

The midfield battle may ultimately decide who controls the pace of the evening. Rodri and Pedri give Spain rhythm and security in possession, while France will rely on Manu Kone and Adrien Rabiot to break up circulation and release runners early. If Spain are allowed to settle into long passing sequences, they can pin opponents back and dictate territory. If France can turn regains into immediate vertical attacks, they can drag Spain into the kind of open game few teams have survived against them in this tournament.

There is also the weight of occasion. Tuesday is Bastille Day in France, and Deschamps is set to take charge of his 26th World Cup match, moving ahead of Helmut Schon for the outright managerial record in the competition. Spain, meanwhile, arrive as European champions and with an unbeaten record under De la Fuente across World Cup and European Championship matches that underlines the consistency of this cycle.

Everything points to fine margins. France have looked the sharper, more explosive side in the final third. Spain have looked the cleaner, calmer and more resistant side without the ball. For all the star names, the semi-final may come down to which team wins the key one-on-one battles on the flanks and which midfield can impose its preferred tempo first. In a tournament that has steadily narrowed to four former champions, this feels like a meeting worthy of the final itself.