Updated

Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jul 14

Spain, France Ready for World Cup Semifinal as 19-Year-Old Yamal Says He Feels No Fear

Updated

Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jul 14

Spain, France Ready for World Cup Semifinal as 19-Year-Old Yamal Says He Feels No Fear

Q: Can teen star Lamine Yamal continue his dominance over Mbappé and lead Spain to the World Cup final?

Yes — Yamal has a real chance to be decisive again, but he is not the favorite to outshine Mbappé on current tournament form. The case for Yamal is strong. He has hurt France repeatedly, scoring in Spain’s 2-1 Euro 2024 semifinal win and adding two more in the 5-4 Nations League semifinal victory in 2025. He has also been highly influential in this World Cup even with only one goal, leading Spain in shots, shots on target, ground duels won and completed crosses. Spain’s recent record against France is also encouraging: they have won the last two semifinal meetings and remain one of the few sides to consistently trouble Didier Deschamps’ team. But the challenge is bigger now. Mbappé arrives in much sharper scoring form, leading the Golden Boot race with eight goals, while France have won all six matches and own the tournament’s best attacking numbers. Deschamps’ tactical shift to a more aggressive 4-2-3-1, with Olise and Dembélé supporting Mbappé, has made France more dangerous than the side Spain beat last year. Betting markets and Opta both lean toward France. Spain’s route depends less on Yamal “dominating Mbappé” individually than on whether Yamal can unlock a disciplined French side within Spain’s possession game. Spain’s defense, which has conceded only once in six matches, gives them a platform. If Yamal produces another big semifinal moment, Spain can absolutely reach the final. But based on form and depth, France still hold the slight edge.

3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jul 14

Lamine Yamal said he feels no fear ahead of Tuesday’s World Cup semifinal with France, framing Spain’s latest showdown with Les Bleus as “simply football” after comments that France should be afraid drew attention.
The 19-year-old winger, who has scored once this tournament, said the best birthday gift would be beating France and reaching Sunday’s final in New York.
Luis de la Fuente said Spain will try to play on the front foot and impose their possession game, despite France entering as betting favorites with an attack led by Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembele.
De la Fuente also warned France are “far better” than the side Spain edged 5-4 in last year’s Nations League semifinal, saying their players have matured and the clash in Arlington will be very different.
Spain have beaten France in their last two meetings, setting up a semifinal that pits the European champions’ control-based style against a French side that has surged into the last four.