Lamine Yamal has warned France that Spain are not intimidated after his side secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Belgium in the World Cup quarter-final on Friday. Mikel Merino scored the winner in the 88th minute, propelling Spain into a semi-final clash with France on July 14.
Yamal's Defiant Message
Speaking after the match, Yamal made clear Spain's confidence: 'We came to the semi-final for this, to play these matches and win them. Now, it’s time to rest and focus on the match against France.' He added, 'We beat France the last two times we played them. We’re not afraid. There are two options… either they reach three consecutive World Cup finals, or we beat them three times. I don’t know what might happen, but we’re not afraid.'
France's Formidable Run
France have been the standout team of the tournament, advancing to the semi-final with a commanding 2-0 victory over Morocco on Thursday. They are aiming for their third consecutive World Cup final appearance, having won in 2018 and finished runners-up in 2022.
De la Fuente's Tactical Approach
Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente acknowledged France's quality, calling them 'one of the teams that has played the best in the World Cup.' However, he insisted his side will take the game to Didier Deschamps' men. 'It’s legitimate and fair to think that we’re going to work to try and beat France,' De la Fuente said. 'I think they’ll be just as worried. We’re the only team in the world that has managed to beat them two games in a row, we’ve done it. But this third game is going to be different. Two great teams are going to face off.'
Key Stats and Context
Spain's victory over Belgium marked their fifth consecutive win in the tournament. France, meanwhile, have conceded just one goal in their five matches so far. The semi-final will be the third meeting between the two sides in major tournaments since 2021, with Spain winning the previous two encounters, including a 2-1 victory in the 2021 Nations League final and a 1-0 win in the 2024 European Championship quarter-final.
