Key Points
- France and Spain meet for a World Cup final berth.
- The buildup has been consumed by a racism row over a former Spanish leader's column.
France, unbeaten and top-ranked, meets a Spain side that has conceded just once all tournament when the two clash in the FIFA World Cup semi-final on Wednesday morning (AEST) in Arlington, Texas, with a place in the final on the line.
France has won all six of its matches at this World Cup, most recently a 2-0 quarter-final defeat of Morocco, and is a two-time world champion and a finalist four years ago.
Spain, the reigning European champion after beating England in the Euro 2024 final, is unbeaten too, though a scoreless opening draw with debutant Cape Verde has been the one blemish.
La Roja kept five straight clean sheets before Charles De Ketelaere finally breached them in last Friday's quarter-final against Belgium in Los Angeles.
But the buildup to one of the most anticipated matches of the tournament has been tainted by a comment from a former Spanish prime minister that leaders in both countries have condemned as racism.
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A column, and a backlash
Mariano Rajoy, a member of Spain's conservative Popular Party, made the comment in a column for Spanish outlet El Debate published last Friday, days before the semi-final.
"They've won every match they've played at this World Cup and are currently top of the FIFA rankings. They also have an exceptionally strong squad. That said, one thing they don't have is any French players," Rajoy wrote.
"And they're playing very well. They'll be a formidable opponent."
A spokesperson from Rajoy's Popular Party said on Monday the remarks were sarcastic and made without malice.
"These columns are written without ill intent," spokesperson Borja Sémper said.
"This expression is used without ill intent."
France responds
On Monday, France's foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot told French broadcaster BFM TV that "France has no skin colour".
"Any contrary claim stems from stupidity, racism or a combination of the two," he said.
A day earlier, French Football Federation president Philippe Diallo wrote on X that "Mariano Rajoy's remarks about the French team carry intolerable whiffs of racism."
He added that "they also raise questions about the deplorable climate that gives rise to such sentiments. Our players do not need a certificate of nationality from a former Spanish prime minister".
Lilian Thuram, who won the World Cup with France in 1998, argued that questioning the players' Frenchness because of their families' origins is to deny the nation's own history.
Comments condemned in Spain
Spain's ruling socialist government swiftly condemned Rajoy's remarks, who was prime minister from 2011 to 2018.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez referenced the comments without naming his predecessor, writing on X: "There are those who still measure belonging by surname, place of birth, or skin color. Others measure it by our roots in a country and our will to contribute to it. Playing soccer. Caring for our elders. Or opening businesses."
He signed off: "France, we'll see you in the semifinals. May the best one win and may racism lose."
Spanish foreign minister José Manuel Albares also spoke out on Monday, saying the Popular Party's leader, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, needed to disavow the remarks.
Spain forward Borja Iglesias, speaking to sports broadcaster DAZN, said the language itself was the problem.
"It is a very dangerous discourse. Nationality cannot be doubted because of a person's family origin," Iglesias said.
"Saying someone is not French because their parents or grandparents are from another country is very serious. If they were born there or have French nationality, they are French and represent their country like anyone else."
Inside the France camp
France midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery was asked about the comments the day before the game in a news conference at the venue and said he hadn't seen them.
"This French team has players from different backgrounds and origins," Zaire-Emery said through a translator.
"So does the country."
"We are a united group, a united team, and that's all that matters," he added.
It's not the first time France's team has faced racism during this year's World Cup.
Earlier this month, Mbappé condemned a Paraguayan senator over remarks she made following Paraguay's loss to France in the Round of 16.
Celeste Amarilla, a senator from Paraguay's Liberal Radical Party, posted a series of comments on X mocking the French player's origins, upbringing, education and appearance after France won on July 4 with a penalty by Mbappé.
— With additional reporting by the Associated Press.
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