Spain's Lamine Yamal: France should fear us ahead of World Cup semifinal

Lamine Yamal confidently stated that France should fear Spain as both teams prepare for their World Cup semifinal clash on Tuesday in Arlington, Texas. Spain secured their spot by defeating Belgium 2-1 on Friday, while France triumphed over Morocco 2-0 the previous day.

Spain's Road to the Semifinals

Spain’s journey to the semifinals has been marked by a mix of performances. Their campaign began with a goalless draw against Cape Verde, followed by victories against Saudi Arabia and Uruguay. In the knockout stages, they faced challenges, needing late goals from Mikel Merino to defeat both Portugal and Belgium.

• Goalless draw vs Cape Verde
• Victory over Saudi Arabia
• Win against Uruguay
• Late goals against Portugal and Belgium

Despite their success, Yamal acknowledged the difficulties posed by teams that often defend deeply against them. “It may seem as if we're not playing great, but every team we play sits back against us,” Yamal explained.

Historical Context of the Rivalry

This upcoming match marks the third encounter between Spain and France in recent years. Spain previously defeated France in the semifinals of the 2024 European Championships and the 2025 UEFA Nations League. Yamal's confidence stems from these past victories, stating, “If France should fear anyone, it's us. We have knocked them out [before].”

Spain’s coach, Luis de la Fuente, emphasized the high expectations for the upcoming match, noting, “We're concentrated on this next game and very well aware of the potential of our opponent.” He believes that Spain has the quality to overcome France again.

The Stakes of the Semifinal

For Spain, this semifinal represents a significant moment, being their first since they won the World Cup in 2010. Meanwhile, France aims to reach their third consecutive World Cup final, having won in 2018 and finished as runners-up to Argentina in Qatar four years ago.

Yamal, who recently recovered from a hamstring injury, has made an impact at the finals with one goal in six appearances. As he turns 19 on Monday, he expressed his desire to continue pushing forward with the team. “We are really happy to be in the semifinal. We've been here for a long time now and we want to stay until the final,” he stated.