‘Let him say whatever he wants’ - Konate slams Yamal ahead of Spain clash

France defender Ibrahima Konate has downplayed the bold pre-match statements made by Spain's Lamine Yamal ahead of their highly anticipated 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-final clash. Yamal, brimming with confidence after Spain's quarter-final victory, suggested that France, not Spain, should be the team feeling apprehensive about the upcoming match. "If anyone should be afraid, it’s them, we’ve eliminated them," Yamal stated, emphasizing that both teams are strong but Spain harbors no fear. He added, "We are the two best national teams in the World Cup."

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If anyone should be afraid, it’s them, we’ve eliminated them. We are two great teams, for me the two best, but we have absolutely no fear.

Yamal's confidence is bolstered by Spain's recent success against France, including a 2-1 victory in the Euro 2024 semi-final and a 5-4 win in the 2025 UEFA Nations League final. However, Konate, speaking at a press conference on Sunday, insisted that the French squad is not paying undue attention to Yamal's rhetoric. "In all honesty, we don’t listen to what’s being said," Konate remarked. "You shouldn’t be afraid of anyone; we need to remain humble and not fall into that trap, especially at this stage of the competition."

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No, no, no… In all honesty, we don’t listen to what’s being said. You shouldn’t be afraid of anyone; we need to remain humble and not fall into that trap, especially at this stage of the competition.

Konate, who is set to face Yamal regularly in La Liga next season following his move to Real Madrid, stressed that the team's focus remains squarely on their own preparation. "Now, he can say whatever he wants, we are going to try to prepare the best we can. And at the end of the match, we’ll see who it favors," the defender added. Spain enters the semi-final with a psychological edge, having won three of their last four encounters against France over the past decade. Notably, Yamal has a perfect record against French captain Kylian Mbappe in knockout matches, winning all five previous meetings.

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Now, he can say whatever he wants, we are going to try to prepare the best we can. And at the end of the match, we’ll see who it favors.