🗞️ Just one day to go: France-Spain, all-out showdown on Monday's back pages | OneFootball

The sports front pages are heating up on the eve of the big 2026 World Cup semifinal between Spain and France, blending La Roja’s blind confidence with the absolute respect of the French.

The football world comes to a halt for the most eagerly awaited clash. Monday’s newsstands reflect the huge anticipation surrounding a duel that will decide the tournament’s finalist, marked by Spanish optimism and the caution of a France side that has already identified its biggest threats.

Total confidence in the Spanish newspapers

The Spanish press radiates unwavering faith in Luis de la Fuente’s team. MARCA leads its front page with an exclusive interview with Mikel Merino under the headline "There’s still room in the trophy cabinet," where the midfielder says that La Roja is made for occasions like this against the French "empire of goals."

For its part, Sport hails him as "La Roja’s hero", highlighting the supreme confidence filling the Spanish dressing room.

The optimism does not stop there. In AS, young centre-back Pau Cubarsí grabs the spotlight with a bold statement: "I’ve pictured myself with the World Cup". The defender bluntly states that "Mbappé is not scary" and backs Spain’s collective play to neutralize the Real Madrid star.

France fears the Lamine Yamal factor

On the other side of the border, the perspective shifts to respect and vigilance. The newspaper Aujourd'hui en France dedicates its front-page sports space to Tuesday’s match with a very clear warning message: "France-Spain, D-1: The Yamal threat".

The French know perfectly well that stopping the young Barça winger will be the key to reaching next Sunday’s grand final.

Argentina roars with Julián Álvarez

Beyond the European classic, the other semifinal is also beginning to take shape. Mundo Deportivo and Sport prominently highlight Argentina’s progression after beating Switzerland 3-1 in extra time with a display from "Crack Julián" Álvarez and assists from Leo Messi.

The tournament is heading toward a Hollywood ending where "Messi challenges Kane" on the other side of the bracket.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

📸 FRANCK FIFE - AFP or licensors