Published On 7/3/2026
In response to his Barcelona teammate Lamine Jamal, who considered that France was not a candidate to win the 2026 World Cup, Jules Kounde said Thursday, in reference to the two recent defeats to “La Roja,” that he keeps Spain “in a corner of (his) mind.”
The Barcelona full-back from Waltham, the French national team’s training center near Boston, said: “I know Lamine Djamel very well. I know that he is a very strong player, and an ambitious young man who says things as he thinks and as he sees them.”
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The “Blue” defender added: “The truth is that being a favorite in a competition does not mean much. Unfortunately, the last matches we played against Spain did not go as we wanted. We keep that in a corner of our minds, at least in a corner of my mind.”
Conde (27 years old) was responding to the statements of his colleague in the Spanish club, who two days ago opined that France was not a candidate for the 2026 World Cup.
The 18-year-old Spanish talent said on the “El Partidazo” program on COPE Radio on June 30: “I don’t think a single team can say that. They haven’t beaten us since the European Cup, and they can’t be better than us.”
France lost to Spain 1-2 in the semi-finals of the European Nations Cup 2024 in Germany, then fell again 4-5 in the semi-finals of the European Nations League on June 5, 2025.
Jamal raises controversy
At the Spanish team’s camp in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the Barcelona striker clarified his statement, saying: “The group stage means nothing. Look at Germany,” referring to Germany’s sudden exit in the round of 32 against Paraguay, France’s next opponent, after topping its group.
He continued: “A new World Cup is starting now. France is playing at a very high level, is in great condition and has good players, but I do not think it is superior to anyone. For me, no one is superior to anyone.”
In the United States, France and Spain, who qualified for the quarter-finals, may meet in the semi-finals in Dallas on July 14, if both of them advance to the next two rounds.
