Spain have conceded only one ‌goal in the entire tournament to reach the last four in search of a second World Cup title.

“You cannot fear ​anyone,” France centre-back Konate told a press conference. “We will now prepare as best ⁠as possible and hope the result in the end will favour us.”

“Spain are an exceptional ​team, with a lot of individual quality, so we won’t be focusing on just one player ​even though Lamine (Yamal) is a great player,” said Konate, who had a brief substitute appearance in the win over Norway in their final group match.

Dayot Upamecano and William Saliba have been France’s starting centre-backs, as the tournament ​favourites eye their fifth World Cup final.

The French have reached four of the last seven World ​Cup finals. Should they take part in the July 19 showdown in New York, they will sustain the ‌comparison ⁠with West Germany, arguably the ultimate tournament nation with four finals between 1974 and 1990.

But Konate said the French were not wasting any thoughts on what might be.

“We are staying humble, we won’t fall into that trap,” he said.

They will need to find a way to break down ​this World Cup’s most effective ​backline, as well ⁠as contain as much as possible Lamine’s runs down the wings.

“I would not say ‘fear’ but we are conscious of their quality,” said fellow France ​centre-back Maxence Lacroix. “They have won all their matches (except a 0-0 draw against ​Cape Verde ⁠in the group), so we respect them. They have high quality players but we want to win.”

Top of the list is Spain winger Lamine, who has earned praise from his coach for keeping ⁠opponents’ defenders ​busy as teammate use the spaces created.
“We will defend well, ​the best,” Lacroix said. “Lamine is a very good player and he has shown he can hurt teams at this World ​Cup. We will do the work that is needed.”

–Reuters–