Spain forward Lamine Yamal said his team is not afraid of France ahead of their World Cup semi-final match on Tuesday [1].
The confidence of the young star reflects Spain's momentum after a dramatic victory in the previous round, positioning the team as a primary contender for the title.
Spain secured its place in the semi-finals by defeating Belgium 2-1 [1]. That match, held in Los Angeles, was decided by a late goal from Mikel Merino in the 88th minute [1]. Following that performance, Yamal said he wanted to boost his team's confidence while issuing a warning to their upcoming opponents.
"We are not afraid," Yamal said [1].
The matchup will take place on July 12 in Dallas, U.S. [2]. The timing coincides with a personal milestone for the forward, who turned 19 on July 10 [1]. Yamal said that Spain has nothing to fear before the encounter, suggesting that the team's recent knockout-stage success has prepared them for the challenge.
"Spain have nothing to fear before their World Cup semi-final against France," Yamal said [3].
Yamal also said the quality of both sides, describing Spain and France as the best two teams in the competition [1]. He further said that Spain's ability to eliminate other top contenders proves their readiness for the semi-final stage.
"We have knocked them…" Yamal said [4].
“"We are not afraid."”
Spain's psychological approach, led by the confidence of young players like Yamal, suggests a shift in the team's competitive identity. By framing the match as a clash between the two best teams, Spain is attempting to neutralize the perceived intimidation factor of the French national team while leveraging the momentum from their late victory over Belgium.
