France and Spain clash in a top-tier Nations League semifinal on Thursday, which will decide the second finalist of the tournament after Germany face Portugal the day before.
It’s a marquee matchup between two national teams who are considered among the favorites to win the World Cup next summer, presenting a delicious clash of young superstars on either side of the matchup.
Kylian Mbappe is back from his brief exile last fall and in full swing, ready to rock alongside Ballon d’Or contenders.Champions League Title Winners: Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue.
They will face Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal whose global profile has risen significantly over the last six months from future superstar to current icon.
Spain vs. France starting lineups, team news
Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has made a few key calls in this squad, such as leaving out rising Real Madrid defender Asencio, Raul and Barcelona forward Ferran Torres. He is also without Dani Carvajal who is still recovering from his ACL tear, and Rodriguez was not called up in either despite returning from injury right at the end of the club season.
He will need to piece together a back line, which will likely look similar to the defensive unit that beat the Netherlands on penalties back in March.
Robin Le Normand retains his spot in the middle of defense overall Pau Cubarsi, while it’ll be between Pedro Porro over Mingueza Oscar on the right.
In the middle, De la Fuente does not select Gavi after he struggled to earn a starting spot for Barcelona this season amidst fitness concerns, with Arsenal-bound Martin Zubmiendi
He was handed the spot. He starts alongside. Pedri and his future Gunner teammate Mikel Merino, with Fabian Ruiz left on the bench.
Spain starting lineup
(4-3-3, from right to left):
23. Simon (GK) – 2. Porro, 3. Le Normand, 12. Huijsen, 24. Cucurella – 6. Merino, 18. Zubimendi, 20. Pedri – 19. Lamine Yamal, 21. Oyarzabal, 11. N. Williams.
Spain injuries:
D. Carvajal (ACL), Rodri (fitness).
Spain full roster
Goalkeepers:
David Raya, Alex Remiro, Unai Simón.
Defenders:
Marc Cucurella, Pau Cubarsi, Alex Grimaldo, Dean Huijsen, Oscar Mingueza, Robin Le Normand, Pedro Porro, Dani Vivian.
Midfielders:
Alex Baena, Gavi, Isco, Ferran López, Mikel Merino, Dani Olmo, Pedri, Fabián Ruiz, Martín Zubimendi.
Forwards:
Samu Aghehowa, Alvaro Morata, Yeremy Pino, Mikel Oyarzabal, Nico Williams, Lamine Yamal.
France have strength in attack, but have been weakened in defense due to injuries. Most notably, they are without William Saliba in the middle Jules Koundé on the right, while Eduardo Camavinga misses out along with his Real Madrid teammate Ferland Mendy.
The biggest task for head coach Didier Deschamps is sorting through the litany of forwards to pick from, with a number of talented in-form attackers. Kylian Mbappé is a lock to start as he returned from a short national team exile in March, and it seemed a lock that Ousmane Dembele would too.
That left the third spot down to either prolific Bayern Munich right winger Michael Olise, Champions League final hero Desire Doue Inter Milan forward Marcus Thuram, or PSG star
Bradley Barcola. In the end, Didier Deschamps couldn’t resist the allure of selecting two, not one, from that group, as Olise and Doue are both deployed at the expense of a midfielder.
Roma midfielder Kouaduo Kone is selected alongside Adrien Rabiot in the middle, with Aurelien Tchouameni surprisingly left out.
Pierre Kalulu wins the right-back spot over Bad Taste, while Clement Lenglet partners with Ibrahima Konate in the middle with Benjamin Pavard missing out.
France starting lineup (4-3-3, right to left):
16. Maignan (GK) – 19. Kalulu, 15. Konate, 5. Lenglet, 22. T. Hernandez – 13. Kone, 14. Rabiot – 11. Olise, 7. Dembele, 24. Doue – 10. Mbappe.
France injuries:
J. Kounde (hamstring), F. Mendy (muscle), E. Camavinga (hamstring), W. Saliba (hamstring).
France full roster
Goalkeepers:
Lucas Chevalier, Mike Maignan, Brice Samba.
Defenders:
Loic Bade, Lucas Digne, Malo Gusto, Lucas Hernandez, Theo Hernandez, Pierre Kalulu, Ibrahima Konate, Clement Lenglet, Benjamin Pavard.
Midfielders:
Matteo Guendouzi, Manu Kone, Adrien Rabiot, Aurelien Tchouameni, Warren Zaire-Emery.
Forwards:
Bradley Barcola, Rayan Cherki, Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, Randal Kolo Muani, Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise, Marcus Thuram.
France has an incredible attacking unit, but their midfield and back line have a few weaknesses. Barcelona suffered from the absence of Jules Kounde, and France will too as Spain come together to secure a spot in the final.