France and Spain will face off on Tuesday night (10:00 p.m.) in the first semifinal of this year’s World Cup!

At the press conference ahead of the big match, the coach of the “Tricolores,” Didier Deschamps, emphasized that Mbappé is 100% ready to play, while making it clear that there’s no question of a rematch, since the stakes of advancing to the final are in themselves a huge motivation for the players!

Here’s what the French national team coach had to say in detail:

On Tchouaméni and Barkola–Doué: “He’s not at 100%—his last game was two weeks ago—but that’s not an insurmountable obstacle. He’s available again today. As for Barkola and Due, they know each other well and get along great. I don’t make decisions based on what the opponent does. I’m very happy to have both of them, as well as the rest of the players.”

On the travel schedules of the two teams: “I haven’t looked into Spain’s travel schedule, but I know ours. We didn’t choose Boston as our base by chance. Obviously, freshness is an important factor in this tournament.”

On how important experience is in such games: “It’s obvious that experience and track record are important factors. You have to adapt, but the situation is never the same. There are so many variables. If that can prevent me from taking actions that might backfire, that’s already a positive, but preparation is always required.”

On the excitement surrounding this French national team in the U.S.: “I know there are five major sports in the U.S., but soccer isn’t one of them. We’re already seeing people at our training base in Boston describe us as a ‘friendly’ team, although that’s partly because we’ve won quite a few matches. However, it’s a positive thing if this can help soccer grow here.”

On Spain: “It’s obvious that Spain wants to control possession, and if they’ve conceded only one goal, it’s because their opponents struggle to win the ball back. And we’re a possession-based team, so there will be a battle for control of the game. The past is the past, and there’s no question of a rematch. This is a semifinal, and a spot in the final is at stake. I’m not ignoring the two previous games, but there’s only one spot in the final.”

On Mbappé’s condition: “He’s fine. He’s at 100 percent.”

*photo source: AP