World Cup: 'No team dares to face us directly,' says Spain's 18-year-old star Yamal

Spain's 18-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal declared that no team dares to face his squad head-on after their hard-fought 2-1 victory over Belgium in the 2026 World Cup quarterfinals. The win propelled "La Furia" into the semifinals, where they are set to meet a strong French side.

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I think that if France is going to be afraid of any team, it should be us.

Yamal, who was named man of the match, exuded confidence, suggesting that if any team should fear an opponent, it is France, not the other way around. "We are not afraid of anyone," Yamal stated. He acknowledged France as one of the best teams but emphasized that Spain is also a world-class national team.

The young forward downplayed his personal statistics, recalling his contribution of one goal and four assists during Spain's 2024 European Championship victory. He believes Spain's control of possession will be crucial in limiting France's effectiveness. "I think we are much better than Belgium," Yamal asserted. "It looks like we are all playing very beautiful football, but in reality, no team can stand up to us equally. Everyone chooses to sit back, which makes the game more difficult. No one dares to face us directly. But in the end, we still got the win."

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We are not afraid of anyone.

This marks Spain's first World Cup semifinal appearance since 2010. Their recent successes against France in the 2024 European Championship semifinals and the 2025 Nations League semifinals add an intriguing narrative to the upcoming clash.

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It looks like we are all playing very beautiful football, but in reality, no team can stand up to us equally. Everyone chooses to sit back, which makes the game more difficult. No one dares to face us directly. But in the end, we still got the win.