France v Spain World Cup semi-final, a century of heavyweight collisions | OneFootball

France face Spain in the World Cup semi-final on Tuesday at 21:00, renewing one of international football’s great rivalries. L'Équipe notes a century-old contest that has swung between dominance and payback.

Spain are France’s fifth-most frequent opponents, with 38 meetings since 1922 and a ledger of 13 French wins, 18 for Spain and seven draws. The story splits into two clear eras.

The first competitive meeting came in the Euro 1984 final. Spain’s unlikely run featured a 12-1 over Malta to qualify with the required margin, a late escape against West Germany and a shootout win over Denmark, before Michel Platini and Bruno Bellone sealed France’s 2-0 victory.

France then held the upper hand. They beat Spain 2-1 in the Euro 2000 quarter-final after Raúl missed an 89th-minute penalty, then 3-1 in the 2006 World Cup last 16 with Zinédine Zidane in command, before momentum shifted.

A golden Roja took seven of the next 10, including 2-0 in the Euro 2012 quarter-final and 2-1 in the Euro 2024 semi despite Randal Kolo Muani’s early goal, winning both tournaments.

Recent markers feel mixed. Spain’s 2-0 friendly win in March 2017 now looks distant, while France’s 2-1 Nations League final win in 2021 came with a different 3-4-1-2 and personnel to today’s teams.

The Euro 2024 semi is the truest guide. Two years on, nine French starters reappeared against Senegal, and Spain kept a 4-2-3-1 with Dani Olmo as No 10, Álex Baena replacing the injured Nico Williams to dictate tempo. In June 2025, Spain edged a wild Nations League semi 5-4 after leading 4-0 and 5-1 as Didier Deschamps trialled a 4-2-3-1 with Michael Olise, with French pressing lapses costly. Without Rodri, Spain traded control for incision, a method that now feels more confidence boost than blueprint.

Source: L'Équipe