Lamine Yamal: Spain not afraid of France ahead of World Cup semi-final

Spain forward Lamine Yamal has declared that his team is not afraid of France ahead of their FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final showdown in Dallas. The match pits Spain's formidable attack against France's near-impenetrable defense, with both teams boasting impressive records in the tournament.

Spain's defensive solidity meets France's attacking firepower

Spain have conceded just one goal in the World Cup so far, keeping five consecutive clean sheets. In contrast, France's forward line of Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, and Michael Olise has been unstoppable. The semi-final promises to be a classic encounter between two footballing powerhouses.

Recent history favors Spain

Spain have won their last two meetings with France: a 2-1 victory in the UEFA EURO 2024 semi-finals and a thrilling 5-4 win in the 2025 UEFA Nations League final. France, meanwhile, are aiming to reach their third consecutive World Cup final.

“There are two possibilities: either they reach three World Cup finals in a row, or we beat them three times. I don’t know what might happen, but we’re not afraid at all,” Yamal said.

Yamal reflects on quarter-final victory

Spain advanced to the semi-finals after a 2-1 win over Belgium in Los Angeles, with Mikel Merino scoring a late winner. Yamal, who was named Player of the Match, emphasized his focus on team success over individual accolades.

“I’m really happy with the win. Back in the semi-finals again. That’s what we came here for – to play these matches and win them. Now it’s time to rest and start thinking about the match against France,” Yamal said.

The 18-year-old has scored one goal in the World Cup so far, but he remains unfazed by his personal tally. “Obviously I wanted to score because it helps the team, but I don’t go out onto the pitch thinking about that. If I win the World Cup, I don’t think anyone’s going to remember how many goals I’ve scored or missed. If we win, we’ll all be happy. If I win the [player of the match award], all the better, but above all, I want the team to win.”

Yamal also highlighted his role in creating space for teammates. “I know that my runs draw in a lot of opponents and that I can leave a team-mate unmarked. The important thing is that we’ve come here to win, and anything I can do to help – even if I don’t touch the ball in a move – will be a good thing.”

He dismissed concerns about his goal-scoring form, referencing Spain's EURO 2024 triumph where he also scored just once. “I think the whole goal business has got into everyone’s heads, and we won the European Championship with me scoring just one goal. I only scored one goal then, and I’ve already scored one this time. They can rest easy.”