Spain's World Cup dreams are alive and well, according to Xabi Alonso, the former midfielder who recently joined Chelsea. Despite France's impressive form, Alonso believes his team has "many reasons to be optimistic" ahead of their semi-final clash.
France have dominated the tournament so far, winning all six of their matches while scoring 16 goals and conceding just twice. They are now heavy favourites to reach a third successive World Cup final and lift the trophy for the second time since 2018.
However, Alonso is undaunted by the task ahead of Spain. He praised the team's energy, control, and overall strength, saying that he can "see" them lifting the trophy. The Spain legend also acknowledged that several members of his new Chelsea squad, including Reece James and Enzo Fernandez, are still at the World Cup.
Alonso also spoke about the impact of the World Cup on Chelsea's preparations. He revealed that it was already factored into the team's plans, but the team will have to adapt and speed up their preparation with some players still away at the tournament.
Meanwhile, Argentina and England will face off in the other World Cup semi-final on Wednesday night. Argentina have had a rollercoaster ride to the semis, while England secured an impressive win over co-hosts Mexico in the last-16.
