Fifa World Cup Connections Organisation France Spain Philosophies

. There is no singular blueprint for success.

France have illuminated the 2026 FIFA World Cup through the irrepressible brilliance of their front four: Kylian Mbappé, Désiré Doué, Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise; footballers who flourish in freedom and recoil from rigidity.

It is a fitting image for a nation that has so often celebrated those who challenged convention and defied rules — from the Revolution to Surrealism and the Nouvelle Vague.

France are first in shots on target and assists, second on goals and expected goals. Nobody is surprised.

Yet, such has been this tournament that even the team that is the very antithesis of France — Spain — has also been successful, with the fewest goals conceded — just one in six matches.

A team built on an unwavering faith in organisation, where the shirt outweighs the individual wearing it. After winning the 2010 World Cup, Vicente del Bosque had said there is no room for individualism in Spain’s philosophy of collective football. His disciple, Luis de la Fuente has remained steadfast to that creed.

Spain are first in passes and possession control. Nobody is surprised.

On Tuesday, hence, football will not witness merely another game of 22 men chasing a ball. It will witness a battle of two contrasting philosophies. And, only one will prevail.

Didier Deschamps has not always been an apostle of attacking football. Quite the opposite. Defence was the bedrock of France’s 1998 World Cup triumph — of which Deschamps was a part. Fabien Barthez kept the most clean sheets. Not even Ronaldo and Rivaldo’s Brazil could score against them.

Two decades later, Deschamps won the trophy again as manager with a similarly robust blueprint. Hugo Lloris finished with the joint-most clean sheets in Russia.

And then came a campaign for change. At the 2024 Euros, France scored only four goals, of which two came off opponents, and one was a penalty. For a nation blessed with a conveyor belt of attacking talent, it was an unacceptable outcome.

The verdict was out: either Deschamps would have to evolve, or French football would, without him.

The former happened. A new philosophy was introduced — relationalism.

What is it? The name is self-explanatory. This is a footballing style that believes relations outweigh positional play, and a team is as good as the connection among its players. Instead of rigid structural positions, players are given the licence to drift and be creative.

The evidence has been everywhere. Mbappe was the focal point of attack against Morocco, but against Paraguay, it was Dembele. The pair forged a twin-striker partnership against Norway, but against Iraq, Olise was the farthest forward.

The key to a successful relationist team is communication among its attackers. Men who speak the same language.

Guy Stephan, Deschamps’ assistant, alluded to the same theory.

“Between Ousmane, Michael and Kylian, we have players who talk the same (language of) football. Our number one goal is to create problems for the opponent, hurt them, and be decisive.”

Nine of France’s 26-member squad are attackers. Deschamps had made his plans clear at the onset. On being asked about his strategy, he had said: “If I am taking so many offensive players, it is because I want to use them.”

He has done exactly that. No player has scored more goals than Mbappe or supplied more assists than Olise. Dembele has a hat-trick. Doue has repeatedly changed games. The organisational burden belongs to the six behind them. The four horsemen have done as they pleased.

In De la Fuente’s system, no one does as he pleases. Not even the game’s brightest prodigy, Lamine Yamal, is exempt.

Spain are unbeaten in 10 matches this year. More telling is what they have conceded: just three goals. Unai Simón had kept a clean sheet for a record 650 minutes — the longest streak in World Cup history.

If France thrive on variation, Spain thrive on repetition. Their passing networks scarcely change from game to game.

The origin of attacks is contrasting too.

With a Ballon d’Or winner on their flank, France rely on wing-play. Spain’s Ballon d’Or winner plays in midfield. Expectedly, 42.5 percent of their final-third entries have been through the central channel, as opposed to France’s 34.1%.

Asked to define his philosophy before the tournament, De la Fuente said: “For me, the watchword is ‘team’. That must take precedence over individual talent. The collective should always come before the individual. That’s the standard of behaviour we expect. Individual talent alone is not enough to win big competitions. It can win you matches, but not tournaments.”

Mbappe and his compatriots would attempt to prove otherwise. What awaits is a spectacle.

Both teams have their unique spin to football. France believe in connections. Spain believe in organisation. At full-time in Arlington, only one will continue to believe they can win the World Cup.

Shuvaditya Bose is a Deputy Copy Editor at the sports desk of The Indian Express. ... Read More