Ahead of the FIFA World Cup semi-final against Spain, French defender Kounde attended a press conference to answer questions from reporters.

Reporter: Hello, Jules. I'm Alfredo Martinez from Cadena Cero. How does the French team view the statements coming from Spain? For example, Lamine Yamal saying he's not afraid of you, or the general perception that you are the favorites. Do you feel they are disrespectful of you at times? What do you think of these pre-match comments? Thank you.

Hello. No, we never felt there was any disrespect. I know Lamine well, and I know what kind of person he is. For me, it's just a show of confidence. He's always been like that at Barcelona; he has a lot of faith in his own abilities and in the strength of his team. So, I think it's just a way for him to motivate himself, nothing more.

Reporter: Hello, Jules, Adrian Rabiot gave a very powerful speech last night. I'm wondering if that speech moved you? Also, since the start of the final phase, after so many ups and downs and sad things, have you ever felt such a strong collective strength, cohesion, and deep connection within the French team? Thank you.

Yes, Adrian's speech moved us. It was a wonderful speech. He received a long applause after the speech because, as he said, those were heartfelt and sincere words. This team has had a very strong cohesion from the beginning, even during the training camps throughout the season. I think this cohesion has continued from 2022 to the present day in 2024. We have a well-integrated team, and everyone gets along very well. Everyone is working together towards the same goal, which is also our strength. I think it shows on the field that we enjoy playing together, and everyone is working hard for each other. Tomorrow, more than ever, we need to maintain this and do even better if we want to reach the final.

Reporter: Hello, Jules. You have worked with Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele for several years. We know they are very close and have known each other for a long time. How would you describe their relationship, and what does this relationship bring to Les Bleus on a daily basis? Thank you.

I would say their relationship is truly like brothers. Indeed, they grew up together and have known each other for a very, very long time. They are people who bring a lot of joy to the team, both Ousmane and Kylian, they love to joke around, just like most of the team. So, off the field, they bring a lot of happiness, good humor, and positive energy. And on the field, as you've seen, they are two key players who have been creating threats since the start of the FIFA World Cup. We hope for the same tomorrow.

Reporter: Hello, Jules. In the early stages of the competition, there were some doubts about the French team's ability without the ball, especially defensively. But in the last three knockout matches, you have kept clean sheets. Can you talk about your feelings about defending on the field? Specifically, what do you think of the center-back partnership of Saliba and Upamecano? Thank you.

I think we've done very well. As I said before, it's really a collective effort, beyond just the defense. Defending starts from the front line, depending on how we press and how we disrupt the opponent's first pass and passing lanes. I feel that in this series, we have improved at this level. So, naturally, when the work in the front and midfield is done well, the defensive pressure is reduced, and we don't expose ourselves to too many vulnerabilities. Regarding the partnership of Upamecano and Saliba, I think they are very complementary and both have experience playing at a high level. They know each other very well and have played together before. I think each has their strengths. Upamecano might prefer to initiate attacks from the back more than Saliba, while Saliba gives me the feeling of a quiet strength. We all know the effort he puts in when playing with injuries, and I think he is also very, very strong. In short, it's a very solid partnership.

Reporter: Hello, Jules. I'm Isabella Fernandez from Spanish Sports Media. Both France and Spain have very attack-oriented playing systems. In your pre-match analysis, how do you interpret the game, especially defensively, and how do you stay solid without being overwhelmed by the Spanish attacking players?

Yes, as I said, I think these are two very attack-oriented teams that like to have possession. We know that historically Spain has played possession-based football, although they can also create threats in transitions. We are the same; we are a team that feels comfortable with possession and besieging the opponent, but at the same time, we can drop deeper and use transitions, because we have the ability to perform that way. So, we also consider that tomorrow we must fight for possession, because against Spain, you cannot give them the ball for 90 minutes, otherwise they will eventually find space and wear you down, and that won't work.

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