Pedro Porro believes Spain are heading into Tuesday evening's World Cup semi-final against France with the right mindset: respect for the opponent, confidence in the group and no sense that either side carries a clear edge.
The Tottenham Hotspur full-back, who is in his first major international tournament, said the occasion itself is enough to sharpen Spain's focus. France, he noted, are one of the strongest teams in the World Cup, which only increases the motivation inside the squad.
At the same time, Porro was clear about how Spain have approached the tournament. He said the team stay united, work together and treat every match like a final. That collective mentality has helped carry Spain into the last four.
Spain's route to the semi-final
Spain have reached Dallas Stadium after beating Portugal and Belgium, then adding a 3-0 Round of 32 win over Austria. Their run has been built largely on a solid defence, with the group showing the kind of control that tends to matter most in knockout football.
Porro has been part of that progress as Spain's regular right-back during the knockout stages. He also knows what this opponent can bring. Last year, Spain beat France 5-4 in the UEFA Nations League semi-final, and Porro provided an assist in that game. This time, he expects something just as tight, saying there are no favourites and that it will be a fantastic, hard-fought semi-final.
That view fits the tone Spain have carried through the tournament. Porro said the team have been together for a long time and know each other better and better, which helps them handle different game states. He also pointed to the need for flexibility, explaining that each match requires different qualities depending on the opponent.
Against Belgium, for example, he said he was able to push forward for the first goal by overlapping with Lamine Yamal, but spent the rest of the game focused on limiting Jeremy Doku. That kind of balance between attacking support and defensive discipline has become part of his value for Spain.
Porro's international rise has come quickly. He earned his first cap against Georgia in March 2021, and his next Spain appearance came in 2023 while he was already at Tottenham after moving from Sporting Lisbon in January 2023. Now he is playing a bigger role on one of the biggest stages in football.
He said that experience has changed how he feels about the moment. With roughly a year bringing around fifty more matches, he feels more experienced than before, and that growth has helped him handle the pressure of the tournament. He also said he is enjoying the personal side of the journey, noting that 40 days ago he was celebrating with his wife and kids and is now living through this run with Spain.
For Spain, the challenge is straightforward: keep the same unity, maintain the defensive standards and find a way past France. For Porro, the message is just as simple. In a match like this, nobody is the favourite, and the team that handles the details best is the one that moves on.
