Thank you for joining us today, it's felt like a long couple of days without any World Cup action!

Here are some things you may have missed from today, including who you would pick for England v Argentina, as well as build up for the first semi-final between France and Spain:

• 'Rice has still not recovered from illness'
• Should Mainoo replace Rice if injured?
• Has 'Big' Dan Burn done enough to earn a start?
• Mbappe v Yamal
• Should France v Spain in Dallas be the World Cup final?
• Can France stop Spain's successful spell?

Join us later for live radio and text commentary of the semi-final between France and Spain from 18:00 BST.

We will be back tomorrow with reaction to that game and a look ahead to the big one: England v Argentina.

Bye for now!

According to the Opta supercomputer, France are favourites to win the World Cup, with a 56.73% of reaching the final and a 33.55% of winning the tournament.

Tonight's opponents Spain are second favourites to win the World Cup, with a 43.27% chance of reaching the final and a 23.94% of winning it.

England have a 51.91% of reaching the final and have a 22.47% chance of lifting the trophy for the first time in 60 years.

Last but not least is the reigning champions Argentina, who have a 48.09% of getting to the final and a 20.03% of retaining their title.

Image source, Getty Images

Neil Johnston
BBC Sport

France boss Didier Deschamps is predicting a "spectacular" semi-final when his exciting side take on Spain in a heavyweight World Cup showdown in Dallas on Tuesday.

Spain beat France in the semi-finals of Euro 2024 on their way to being crowned European champions before defeating Les Bleus in a nine-goal last-four thriller in the Nations League last year.

"The past is in the past," said Deschamps, who is stepping down at the end of the tournament after 14 years in charge.

"They [Spain] did win in the past but I am looking forward to tomorrow.

"We are now at another level. We want to be in the final."

Two-time world champions France will become only the third country to reach three straight World Cup finals if they win in Texas.

West Germany in 1982, 1986 and 1990, and Brazil in 1994, 1998 and 2002 are the only countries to manage the feat so far.

Deschamps, who captained France to the world title in 1998, managed them to World Cup glory in 2018 before they were beaten on penalties by Argentina in the 2022 final in Qatar.

He said Spain will start the semi-final as favourites.

"They have only conceded only one goal in six games," added Deschamps.

"We know this could be a most spectacular game. [Spain boss] Luis [de la Fuente] and myself we know how to defend and with the quality of two teams offensively, we can think it's going to be a spectacular game."

Image source, Getty Images

De la Fuente played down Deschamps' claim that Spain are favourites against France.

"It doesn't mean anything," said De la Fuente. "We are two great national teams facing one another.

"Whether we are favourites or not doesn't mean further pressure for us. We have that pressure anyway because we want to do well for our country."

"They have great players but so do we," added De la Fuente on Monday.

"Of course we will have to think about these players [Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise], win our battles, be on the front foot and think about our style.

"Tomorrow will be an extremely demanding match."

The Spain boss used a quote from Roman general Julius Caesar in his news conference in Dallas.

"Julius Caesar always said that you can't win without suffering. I agree with that," said the 65-year-old.

"That is one of the expressions I love. If you want to achieve big things in your life you need to prepare to suffer.

"Can I enjoy this semi-final? Fortunately enough I enjoy doing this job. It's my passion. It is such a privilege to be in this position.

"I tell my players 'look enjoy what we have today. You are privileged. Let's play football. You have huge potential. Let's do what we do best'."

Image source, Getty Images

Let's see what both Deschamps and De la Fuente have said to the media ahead of the semi-final clash in Dallas.

Didier Deschamps will set a new record when he takes charge of France's game against Spain.

The match will see the 57-year-old become the first manager to oversee 26 World Cup matches.

He is currently level with Germany's Helmut Schön on 25.

Image source, Getty Images

France made it six straight victories at this World Cup by beating Morocco 2-0 in the quarter-finals.

They are now looking to become just the second European side to win seven in a row, after Italy,who did that at the 1934 and 1938 World Cups.

Image source, Getty Images

Chris Sutton
Former England forward

I am at this tie for BBC Radio 5 Live and I can't wait.

As far as I am concerned, France and Spain have been the best two teams at this tournament - for me, whoever wins this game also wins the World Cup.

The only disappointment with Spain has been Lamine Yamal's form so far, because we've not seen the best of him.

He's been on the periphery in a lot of their games and, when I was at their win over Portugal in the last 16, Nuno Mendes saw him off comfortably.

Yamal will be up against France left-back Lucas Digne this time and he may well fancy his chances one-on-one in that battle.

Spain will definitely need him to turn up. Yamal scored when they beat France in the semi-final of Euro 2024 and how he plays this time will have a large bearing on how the game goes.

I still can't look past France as winners, however. They have scored 16 goals in their six games to get here and have won them all in 90 minutes - only Argentina, with 17, have more and four of their goals have come in extra time.

France are likely to play on the counter-attack and, because of how brave Spain are with the way they play with the ball and press without it, I can see France having quite a few opportunities on the break.

Spain have only conceded one goal so far but Belgium had a few sniffs against them on the break in the last round and, with the pace and quality France have up front, I feel like they can definitely punish them.

Whether Yamal comes alive or Mikel Merino pops up again, Spain will score. I just think France will score more.

Sutton's prediction: 3-1

AI's prediction: 2-1

The 2024 European Champions have lost just one of their 27 matches at major tournaments (W16 D10) since the start of the 2018 World Cup.

They are unbeaten in 14 since a 2-1 loss to Japan at the 2022 World Cup, conceding just five goals and never more than one in a game (9 clean sheets).

Image source, Getty Images

Spain boss Luis de la Fuente has overseen the most World Cup and European Championship games without losing of any manager (13 – W12 D1).

Their last defeat in a competitive match came in the Nations League final defeat to Portugal in June 2025.

Image source, Getty Images

Mikel Merino is the definition of a clutch player for Spain.

Just 115 seconds after entering the pitch in the 86th minute against Belgium in the quarter-final, he scored the winning goal.

In the previous round against Portugal, it took him just over five minutes to have the same impact.

It was his effort in the 91st minute that eliminated Portugal.

At this tournament, he has become the first player in World Cup history to score the winning goal in two different knockout-stage matches as a substitute, and also the first Spanish player to score two winning goals after the 80th minute at the World Cup.

These two goals at the 2026 tournament have come from just four shots, giving Merino an impressive conversion rate of 50%.

He also averages a goal every 3.5 touches in the opposition’s box, the 11th-best rate of any player to have scored two or more goals.

Image source, Getty Images

Yamal, Williams and Rodri may be off the pace for Simon, but Mikel Merino has been the man who's been scoring late goals to pull Spain through.

Here is a recap of all of Spain's goals at the World Cup so far- including some of those late winners from Merino.

Spain have been the hardest-working of the final four as they've run, sprinted and pressed the opposition the most out of the semi-finalists.

Luis de la Fuente's side have also enjoyed the most possession (66%) - not just of the teams remaining but of any side at this World Cup - and have the joint-best passing accuracy at the tournament along with Argentina (90.4%), although all four sides have been proficient passers.

Image source, Getty Images

One man who likes to pass, pass, pass is Manchester City's Rodri.

The Spain captain has completed 597 accurate passes at a success rate of 93.6%.

Defensively, he has won 14 of his 18 tackles, made 28 accurate long balls to switch play under pressure and won possession 32 times - a figure bettered by only four players.

His nine key passes for Spain also highlight his creative ability, despite not scoring or providing an assist.

When the two sides last met at the World Cup in 2006, it was Les Bleus who came out on top, winning 3-1.

France may be the favourites tonight, but Spain actually have more wins against their opponents. Most recently being in 2025 and of course- that Euro 2024 semi-final.

France and Spain have met on 38 occasions over the years, and it is the European champions who lead the head-to-head record with 18 wins to Les Bleus' 13, while the sides have played out seven draws.

Last five matches:

• Spain 5-4 France (Uefa Nations League 2025 semi-final)
• Spain 2-1 France (Euro 2024 semi-final)
• Spain 1-2 France (Uefa Nations League 2021 final)
• France 0-2 Spain (Friendly, 2017)
• France 1-0 Spain (Friendly, 2014)

Last World Cup meeting:

• Jun 27, 2006, Spain 1-3 France (round of 16)

Image source, Getty Images

Tonight will be France's eighth appearance in the final four of the World Cup, with only Germany reaching this stage more often (12).

Although France lost their first three in 1958, 1982 and 1986, they have progressed in each of the past four (1998, 2006, 2018 and 2022) and won the most recent three without conceding.

Image source, Getty Images