Spain's Yamal confident ahead of potential France clash in World Cup semis

Lamine Yamal, the young forward for the Spanish national team, is looking ahead to the 2026 World Cup semifinals with unwavering confidence, particularly regarding a potential clash with France.

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If anyone has to fear anyone, it's them, not us; we are the ones who have eliminated them before. We are two top teams, world-class, for me the two best. We'll see what happens, but we have no fear.

"If anyone has to fear anyone, it's them, not us; we are the ones who have eliminated them before," Yamal declared after Spain's quarter-final victory over Belgium. He views both teams as top-tier, world-class selections, anticipating a challenging but fearlessly approached match.

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I have been looking forward to this match since the World Cup began. We are the two best teams in the World Cup. Without any fear, if anyone can confidently face France, it is us.

Yamal emphasized his personal readiness and growing form, noting that he is recovering from an injury. "Every week that passes, I will be better. I arrive with great confidence, knowing that everything will go well and that I am prepared," he stated. He also downplayed the importance of individual scoring, referencing his Euro Cup win with a single goal and asserting that team success in the World Cup would be paramount, regardless of his personal tally.

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I expect a team that will come at us, but not for the whole match. No team will play us one-on-one across the entire field. They have a lot of quality upfront and a very physical team.

Reflecting on the team's performance, Yamal acknowledged France's quality and physical strength but reiterated Spain's own capabilities. He expressed contentment with the win against Belgium and a calm approach to scoring, prioritizing the team's progression in the tournament above all else.

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It doesn't frustrate me. I won the Euro Cup scoring one goal. If I win the World Cup and don't score more, no one will say anything to me. We won, and that's it. As long as we keep advancing, I'll be very happy.