In response to his Barcelona teammate Lamine Yamal, who believed France is not a contender to win the 2026 World Cup, Jules Koundé stated Thursday, referring to the recent defeats against 'La Roja', that he keeps Spain 'in a corner of (his) mind'.
The Barcelona full-back from Waltham, training camp of the French national team near Boston, said: 'I know Lamine (Yamal) well. I know he’s a very strong player, an ambitious young man who says things as he thinks and sees them'.
The defender of 'Les Bleus' added: 'The truth is that being a contender in a competition doesn’t mean much. Unfortunately, the recent matches we played against Spain didn’t go as we wanted. We keep that in a corner of our minds, at least in a corner of my mind'.
Koundé (27) was responding to comments from his club teammate who remarked two days ago that France isn’t a contender for the 2026 World Cup.
The Spanish talent (18) said on the program 'El Partidazo' on Cadena COPE on June 30: 'I don’t think that one team can say that. They haven’t beaten us since the Euros, and they can’t be better than us'.
France had lost to Spain 1-2 in the semi-finals of the 2024 Euros in Germany and then fell again 4-5 in the semi-finals of the Nations League on June 5, 2025.
In the Spanish national team's camp in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the Barcelona forward clarified his remarks by stating: 'The group stage means nothing, look at Germany', referring to the surprising exit of 'Die Mannschaft' in the round of 32 against Paraguay, France's next opponent, after topping their group.
He continued: 'A new World Cup starts now. France is playing at a very high level, in great shape, and has good players, but I don’t think they are better than anyone. For me, no one is better than anyone'.
In the United States, France and Spain, both qualified for the Round of 16, could meet in the semi-finals in Dallas on July 14, if each surpasses the next two rounds.