Lamine Yamal: France should fear us
Ahead of the 2026 World Cup semi-final, Lamine Yamal states Spain has no fear of France, citing past tournament victories.
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Ahead of Tuesday's 2026 World Cup semi-final in Arlington, Texas, Spain forward Lamine Yamal has issued a confident challenge to France. The young winger believes that Spain holds a psychological edge, suggesting it is the French side that should be afraid of Spain ahead of this game.
If anyone should be afraid, it is France. We have knocked them out before. We have beaten them twice. Honestly, I think we are the two best teams at this World Cup, so we will see how it goes, but we are not afraid. Lamine Yamal
Spain enters the match with a strong record against 'Les Bleus', having eliminated them in the semi-finals of both Euro 2024 and the 2025 UEFA Nations League. For Luis de la Fuente's squad, this marks only their second World Cup semi-final since their 2010 triumph, while France is chasing a third consecutive final appearance.
The journey to the final four has been demanding for Spain, culminating in a late 2-1 victory over Belgium secured by Mikel Merino. Yamal, who has recovered from a hamstring injury, noted that opponents often adopt defensive tactics against them, but stressed the team's commitment to reaching the final.