Ahead of the World Cup 2026 semi-final match between Spain and France, young Spanish star Lamine Yamal made a bold statement, increasing the intensity of interest in the game. After Spain defeated Belgium 2-1 and advanced to the semi-finals, Yamal emphasized that if any team should be afraid, it is Spain.
Yamal's comments on opponents
Having won the quarter-final against Belgium, Yamal stated that, in his opinion, Spain is the team that France should fear. He recalled that they had previously eliminated France from the tournament. Spain had previously beaten France in the Euro 2024 semi-final and also defeated them in the UEFA Nations League last year.
Expectations for the Dallas match
At Euro 2024, Yamal became the player who scored at the youngest age. Now both teams will meet on Tuesday at the home stadium of the Dallas Cowboys to earn a ticket to the final. Yamal also stressed that Spain does not fear any team, noting: 'We are not afraid of anyone.' He acknowledged that both teams are world-class, and France is among the best teams in the world, adding that now it remains to wait for how events unfold.
Match details and team statistics
In the quarter-final against Belgium, the winning goal for Spain was scored by substitute Mikel Merino in the 88th minute. Thanks to this goal, Spain reached the World Cup semi-finals for the first time since 2010. Throughout the tournament, Spain conceded only one goal, which was scored late in the first half of the match against Belgium. On the other hand, France scored 16 goals in its six matches and remained one of the most attacking teams of the tournament.
Long-term achievements of the teams
France regularly reaches the finals of the last two World Cups and won the title in 2018. In contrast, Spain has played in the World Cup final only once in its history. However, the current Spanish national team has been undefeated in 37 official matches since March 2023. The only defeat in this period occurred in the Nations League final against Portugal, and it was recorded only in the penalty shootout.
Yamal's first World Cup experience
Lamine Yamal, who turns 19 the next day, has scored only one goal in his first World Cup, but his creativity and aggressive playing style constantly attract attention. The start of Spain's first goal against Belgium was created by Yamal in a beautiful attack with Pedri Porro. Then Fabián Ruiz converted the rebound from Dani Olmo's shot into a goal.
Tactics against opponents
Despite Spain having to wait until the last minutes of the second playoff match to win, Yamal believes that his team completely dominated their opponents. He noted: 'I think we were much better than Belgium. People think we just play beautiful football, but the truth is that no team dares to play us evenly. All teams retreat, which complicates our task. Nevertheless, in the end, the victory goes to us.'
