[Anchor]

The semifinals of the North and Central America World Cup, featuring the top four teams in the FIFA rankings, begin tomorrow, July 15. France, led by top scorer Mbappe, and Spain, powered by rising star Yamal, will clash tomorrow for a spot in the final.

Reporter Hong Seok-jun has the story.

[Reporter]

A cake appears at the Spanish national team's dinner, one day before their semifinal match against France.

It is a surprise birthday party for the youngest player, Yamal, who is celebrating his 19th birthday.

Yamal's birthday wish is, naturally, a victory in the semifinal.

[Yamal/Spain National Football Team Midfielder: My birthday wish is, of course, to beat France. We will all stick together and fight for the championship until the final.]

Yamal has recently been a "France killer."

He scored one goal in the 2024 European Championship semifinals and two goals in last year's Nations League semifinals, leading his team to victory against France.

[De la Fuente/Spain National Football Team Head Coach: Yamal's best day is yet to come. I hope that day is tomorrow. If not tomorrow, then I hope it is in the final.]

France's Mbappe, who is currently the top scorer of the tournament and aiming to become the top scorer for two consecutive tournaments, has recovered from a minor ankle injury and completed training normally, ready for action.

[Mbappe/France National Football Team Captain: If we want to be considered an invincible team or deserve the highest praise, we still have much more to prove.]

With Dembele also having scored 5 goals, France has become the first team since the 2002 champion Brazil to have two players score 5 or more goals. Boasting a powerful offense that averages 2.67 goals per game, France is determined to turn the semifinal match, held on France's Bastille Day, into a celebration.

[Deschamps/France National Football Team Head Coach: I didn't know it was the first time we were playing on Bastille Day. We will give everything we have to make it a very special day. It will be a thriller you won't be able to take your eyes off of.]

A sports statistics firm predicted a tight contest, giving France a 56.7% chance of reaching the final for the third consecutive time, and Spain, which is currently on a 36-game unbeaten streak, a 43.3% chance of winning.

(Video Editing: So Ji-hye, Video Source: FIFA)