ARLINGTON, Texas — Kylian Mbappé has been included in France's starting lineup for their World Cup semifinal clash against Spain, following a minor ankle injury he sustained during the quarterfinal match against Morocco. Mbappé exited that game in the 77th minute after scoring his eighth goal of the tournament.

Mbappé's Performance and Injury Update

The French striker is currently tied with Argentina's Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot, with both players having scored eight goals in the tournament. Messi, however, holds the record for the most career World Cup goals with 21. France's head coach Didier Deschamps confirmed that Mbappé is in good physical condition despite the earlier injury concerns.

Team Lineup Insights

Mbappé is one of six players who have started all seven matches for France in this World Cup, alongside Ousmane Dembélé and goalkeeper Mike Maignan. On the Spanish side, Mikel Merino is set to come off the bench for the sixth time in seven games. Merino has made a significant impact as a substitute, scoring winning goals in both the round of 16 and quarterfinal matches against Portugal and Belgium, respectively.

Additionally, Lamine Yamal will make his sixth consecutive start for Spain, just a day after celebrating his 19th birthday. The Barcelona forward initially came off the bench during Spain's opening match against Cape Verde, a team that has emerged as a surprising contender in the tournament. Meanwhile, Nico Williams, who has been dealing with a muscle injury, will not be part of the lineup after appearing as a substitute in the knockout stages.

As the semifinal approaches, both teams are poised for a thrilling encounter, with key players like Mbappé and Yamal set to play pivotal roles in their respective squads.