FIFA World Cup 2026: Semi-finals are decided by fine margins, says German goalkeeping great Kahn

Legendary player believes France vs Spain semifinal on Tuesday will be a 'fascinating tactical battle'

Kylian Mbappe trains ahead of the semifinal clash against Spain in Dallas AP

CHENNAI: Two of Europe's best football teams meet in a high-voltage World Cup final in Dallas on Tuesday night. What makes this tie more interesting is the prospects of a high-scoring match. The last time these two sides met was in the UEFA Nations League last year, with La Roja emerging 5-4 winners.

With the rivalry set to reach new heights in this high-pressure battle, former Germany great and Zee5 expert Oliver Kahn believes room for error for players in this match is virtually non-existent. Kahn believes that this tie offers "one of the most fascinating tactical battles."

Spain usually employ their renowned possession-based football, while France are known for their attacking quartet of Kylian Mbappe, Desire Doue, Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise.

"The team that controls the midfield without sacrificing its defensive structure will have the upper hand. Semi-finals are often decided by fine margins rather than sustained dominance," the goalkeeping great, who is part of Zee5's expert panel for the FIFA World Cup's broadcast, said.

Lamine Yamal will be a key player for Spain

"Spain have to stay patient but purposeful. They need to move the ball quickly, create overloads and maintain strong defensive balance because France are one of the best teams in transition."

The German great also believes the battle in midfield will determine the outcome, "It's not about pressing constantly - it's about pressing intelligently. Whichever side controls the central areas and prevents the opposition from playing through the middle will probably control the game."

While both sides are equally strong and are capable of winning the World Cup, Kahn gave France a slight edge. "If I had to pick one team based purely on what we've seen so far, I would probably say France. They look the most complete side in terms of balance, depth and their ability to win games in different ways. But the margins between these four teams are extremely small, and any one of them is capable of lifting the World Cup."

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