France midfielder Warren Zaïre-Emery has declared that his team is out for revenge against Spain in Tuesday's World Cup semifinal, because apparently the memory of being bounced from Euro 2024 still stings. The two sides meet in Dallas with a spot in the final on the line, and France is feeling spicy after a run of scintillating attacking football that makes their previous exit look like a bad dream.

“We have a different team, to my mind,” Zaïre-Emery said, perhaps forgetting that Spain also has a different team, because time moves forward. “We are ready. We want to win against Spain and get our revenge for the Euros.” The 18-year-old, who was an unused sub in 2024 but made his tournament debut against Morocco, also dismissed former Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy's racist comments about France having “no French players,” noting that diversity is what makes France great. Thanks, captain obvious.

Coach Didier Deschamps might swap in Aurélien Tchouaméni for Manu Koné if the Real Madrid man's muscle injury is healed. Kylian Mbappé, who hobbled off against Morocco, is apparently fine - he just did 10 minutes of drills instead of 15, which is basically the athletic equivalent of a participation trophy. Deschamps insisted Spain are favorites, because he apparently enjoys handing the opposition bulletin-board material. “I confirm it,” he said, doubling down on his earlier assessment. “Forget about the first game against Cape Verde. Ever since then Spain have confirmed that they are the favourites.”

Despite Zaïre-Emery's revenge talk, Deschamps played it cool: “There is no lesson to be learned. It will be a battle of wills. There’s no revenge, the past is in the past.” Sure, coach, but try telling that to a teenager who just discovered the concept of payback.