The French national football team's defense, which has made no notable errors so far in the 2026 World Cup, faces a new challenge and test next Tuesday when it meets the Spanish attack, led by talented Lamine Yamal, the 'La Roja' star who managed to outperform 'Les Bleus' two years ago in the European Championship. While attention naturally turns to the attacking trio of Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, and Michael Olise, the defensive line has been no less important, as it has significantly contributed to the undefeated path that led 'Les Bleus' to the semifinals for the third consecutive time. The defensive duo of Dayot Upamecano and William Saliba quickly dispelled doubts and have shown unparalleled solidity since the start of the tournament, conceding only two goals in six matches. Didier Deschamps, the French national team coach, is credited with building an attack-minded team while maintaining a defensive balance capable of greatly reducing the opponents' danger. According to several global sports analysts, the French team has not yet faced a top-tier attack, which might change clearly against 'La Roja', given their technical skills, most notably Yamal, the Barcelona star. The Barcelona gem, who will turn 19 on Monday, has not fully displayed his talent during the 2026 World Cup, although his impact remains evident, as seen in Spain's opening goal in the quarterfinal against Belgium (2-1). Yamal was tipped to be one of the standout stars of the 2026 edition, but he arrived in America injured, and his statistical output so far is limited for a player of his level (one goal against Saudi Arabia and no assists), yet one chance is enough for him to ignite the atmosphere. The French know that well, having witnessed his powerful display in the semifinal of Euro 2024 in Germany (2-1), when he equalized with a curling shot from over 20 meters into the top corner, which was his only goal in the European Championship, a brilliant and decisive touch for Spain on their way to the title. On Friday, Yamal told Spanish TVE in a previous statement: 'If we win the World Cup, I don't think anyone will remember how many goals I scored or missed; if we win, everyone will be happy. That's all I want. I know my movements attract many defenders, and I can create spaces for my teammates. Everything I can do to help, even without touching the ball, will be useful.' Last year, the Spanish player, who wears number 19, caused further damage to the French by scoring a brace in the UEFA Nations League semifinal (5-4), delivering sharp remarks: 'If France has to be afraid of anyone, it's us. We eliminated them last time. They are two great teams, among the best in the world, in fact the best in my opinion. We'll see what happens, but we are not afraid.' France is in for a tough test, as the full-backs, especially Lucas Digne on the left side, face a difficult task. Deschamps and his coaching staff must find the right formula to limit his danger, while also monitoring other threats such as Dani Olmo, Mikel Oyarzabal (4 goals), or Nico Williams, who is gradually regaining fitness after an adductor injury during the group stage. The role of Adrien Rabiot-Aurélien Tchouaméni or Manu Koné, the midfield duo, as a 'double pivot' in front of the defense is crucial, not forgetting the defensive duties of the attacking players, particularly Désiré Doué or Bradley Barcola on the left wing.