France vs Spain: Select Your Best Starting XI from the 22 Players Who Started the World Cup Semi-Final
Alain Giresse and Santiago Cañizares has presented the 22 starting players for France vs. Spain, the World Cup semi-final, this Tuesday, July 14th at 9 pm. Now as a fan create your ideal starting eleven from the two squads.
Winner of Euro 1984 and semi-finalist in the year 1982 and 1986 World Cups, Alain Giresse (73 years old, 47 caps, 6 goals, from 1974 to 1986) has presented the starting eleven for Les Bleus ahead of their World Cup semi-final against Spain this Tuesday, July 14th 2026 at 9 pm. Former goalkeeper for La Roja and quarter-finalist in the 1994 World Cup, Santiago Cañizares (56 years old, 46 caps, from 1993 to 2006), he has presented the eleven Spanish players that is expected to start against France this Tuesday.
Ousmane Dembélé or Lamine Yamal? Rodri or Aurélien Tchouaméni? Pau Cubarsi or Dayot Upamecano?
Before the first semi-final of this 2026 World Cup tournament,
See how our professional rated all the team 22 starters from the France vs Spain World Cup semi-final, then pick your ideal starting XI by selecting the best players from player from both teams. Our professionals have rated every one of the team 22 players who is starting the France vs Spain World Cup semi-final 2026. So now it’s your turn to choose the best performers from both teams and build your own ultimate starting XI.
Mike Maignan presented by Alain Giresse “For his first World Cup as a starter, I find him very encouraging. You can say he really dominates his area in his penalty area, especially with his set pieces. And he still has that dominant side on penalties, with another save from that exercise against Norway. He seems to communicate a lot with his players on the pitch, and it’s very encouraging to have a goalkeeper who commands the defenders during match.
Unai Simón presented by Santiago Cañizares “He is probably playing the best football of his career right now. He so looks calm, with confident, and reliable every time he is in goal. Although he sometimes makes small mistakes when playing the ball with his feet, but his defenders always support him very well. Overall, he has been an excellent goalkeeper.
Jules Koundé presented by Alain Giresse “He comes from a village about 20 kilometers far away from where I grew up, so I have a soft spot for him (laughs). Jules has done a great job adapting in a position that wasn’t his natural role, especially at his football club Barcelona. You can see that he is becoming more comfortable and confident in that position during matches. He has always been a strong defender in every matches, and because he is also good with the ball, he now helps the team more when they attack they opponent.
Pedro Porro presented by Santiago Cañizares “He deserved to win the competition for the right-back spot ahead of Marcos Llorente. Because he has been one of the best players in the tournament so far. And he has been solid in defense and has also made a big impact in attack for his team. His all-round performances have been outstanding.
Dayot Upamecano presented by Alain Giresse “He has improved a lot and taken his game to another level in this tournament. He was always known for his speed, strength, and ability to win challenges during any competitions, but now he also gives his teammates confidence. And he has become one of the team’s most important players and someone they can always depend on during matches.
Pau Cubarsi presented by Santiago Cañizares “He has been in extraordinary form throughout the tournament. Meanwhile he hasn’t put a foot wrong and has been one of the most reliable defenders on the pitch. So far, and no striker has been able to beat him. He also works very well alongside Laporte, and together they have formed a strong defensive partnership in this tournament.
William Saliba presented by Alain Giresse “His time in England league allowed him to reach a new level in his career, too. He doesn’t quite play in the same style as Upamecano; he’s perhaps a bit more of a playmaker. He’s very intelligent in positioning as well as in his tackles. And, above all, he forms a very correlative partnership with Upamecano during game; there’s a perfect playing relationship between the two players, a great mutual understanding.”
Aymeric Laporte presented by Santiago Cañizares “He is the leader of the team’s defense, which has conceded the fewest goals in the tournament. After an excellent season play with Athletic Bilbao, he also carried that great form into the World Cup tournament. He has been solid in every match, made almost no mistakes during match, and has shown why he is one of the best defenders in the competition.
Lucas Digne presented by Alain Giresse “Many people never expected him to be a regular starter, especially after his disappointing performances at the last two World Cups tournament. However, he has proved everyone wrong. He may not grab the headlines, but he is always reliable in the game, he works hard, and stays disciplined. He also has a great understanding with his winger playing in front of him, whether it’s Doué or Barcola, he is helping the team play smoothly on that side of the pitch.
Marc Cucurella presented by Santiago Cañizares “He is one of the team’s most reliable players. Which every player can always count on him to play well. He stays focused, wins his battles against his opponents, and rarely has a bad game. He also helps a lot in attacking because Spain team doesn’t have a traditional left winger. Since Baena often moves into the middle, he pushes forward on the left to create chances of goal scoring. He is a key player because he consistently performs at a high level.
Aurélien Tchouaméni presented by Alain Giresse “He is the team engine room and the player who keeps the midfield strong and balanced. His experience at a big club like Real Madrid has helped him become one of the best in his football career. He does a lot of the hard work that people don’t always notice, such as stopping opponent attacks, also winning the ball back, and protecting the defense. On top of that, he is also a threat going forward because he can score powerful goals from long range, even from 25 or 30 meters outside the 18 box, he’s not afraid.”
Rodri presented by Santiago Cañizares “He has improved with every match in the tournament. At the beginning, he wasn’t fully fit, and he found it so difficult to perform well. Now, he is making a huge difference for the team. He is always in the right position in every game, he does a great job of stopping the opposition’s attacks, and helps start Spain’s attacking moves. He is a complete midfielder and has shown strong leadership throughout the world cup competition. His confidence and experience make him the player every team depends on.
Adrien Rabiot presented by Alain Giresse “He plays differently from Tchouaméni, but the two players work very well together in midfield. He may not be the fastest player, but he is always moving and working hard. He knows how to create space, he support his teammates during match, and be in the right place when the team wins the ball back. He is also smart defensively, reading the game very well and positioning himself to stop attacks before they become dangerous.
Fabian Ruiz presented by Santiago Cañizares “He has been more consistent than Pedri throughout the world cup tournament. He may not create as many assists as some other midfielders, but he is more of a goal threat and is comfortable getting on the scoresheet. Fabián always makes a big impact during matches. After helping his club win two Champions League titles, that is why he is one of the most reliable midfielders in the game.
Ousmane Dembélé presented by Alain Giresse “He started the tournament playing in the middle before moving to the right wing, where he has been very effective in playing. He links up well with his teammates, especially Mbappé. Because he is comfortable using both feet, defenders never know what he will do next. He can beat his opponent and cross with his right foot or cut inside and shoot with his left foot. Since playing as a striker for Paris, he has also become a best finisher. His goal against Morocco showed his growing confidence and ability to take difficult chances in any competition.
Lamine Yamal presented by Santiago Cañizares He is one of the team’s biggest stars, so people naturally expect more from him in every match. He has not yet reached his best form or shown the magic that usually makes him so dangerous. Even so, he remains a constant threat whenever he has the ball and always tries to create chances for his team. He hasn’t been able to guide games as much as he normally can, but the expectations are very high because he is a talent player. For a player like
Lamine, simply playing well isn’t enough his fans expect him to deliver excellent, performances and make the difference in big matches.
Michael Olise presented by Alain Giresse With him, it’s the return of the number ten to the French national team. In midfield, Olise drops deep, he directs play, he always finds the passes that every strikers dream of. What impresses me is that he plays on the right at Bayern club, where he already excels, but you get the impression that he’s even more better in the center. Everything he does exudes game intelligence and he’s at the service of others players, in the noblest sense of the term: he’s capable of putting the ball exactly where the striker wants it to be: on the ground, at their feet, in the air. He can do it all any time and any postition.”
Desired Gifted presented by Alain Giresse He can play anywhere across the front line, even though he’s mostly used on the left wing. He has impressive technique, with the ball always glued to his feet. Desired capable of individual plays that he can creates all by himself, as we saw against Paraguay. He has a different playing style than others: he can drive forward, beat defenders, and push back opponents. And he also has a great shot finishing. We mustn’t forget that he’s only 21 years old!”
Alex Baena presented by Santiago Cañizares “In the absence of Nico Williams, Luis de la Fuente chose Baena, a different kind of player. He’s very comfortable with the ball at his feet in every match, he breaks lines by cutting inside, he allows Cucurella to occupy the left flank, and which he creates a lot of opportunity between the lines. He brings a lot to the team.”
Kylian Mbappé presented by Alain Giresse “There’s no need to list the enormous qualities of the great striker he is. What I find remarkable in this competition is that you feel he’s reached another level, if that were even possible. He’s become a leader—and mind you, he already was one through his goals, and now he’s a leader in a different way: he commands, he inspires others players. He expresses himself with even greater maturity in his game. He’s become a complete player, and at the heights he plays, there aren’t many like him.”
Mikel Oyarzabal presented by Santiago Cañizares “He’s not a pure center-forward, but he moves very well across the entire attacking line to create goal scoring space and get the better of his direct opponents. He’s excellent at finishing, especially because he knows how to look up in front of the goalkeeper. He’s a player who can be undetectable in his movements during match, who isn’t fast, who isn’t the most talented player, but who has a very high football IQ. He understands every game situations very well and he’s always a threat to opponents. He’s the most in-form player in the Spanish attack.”
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