Lamine Yamal has issued a warning to France, declaring Spain are not afraid after they beat Belgium 2-1 to reach the World Cup semi-final. Mikel Merino scored the winner in the 88th minute on Friday, setting up a semi-final tie against France on July 14.
Yamal's defiant message
Speaking after the victory, Yamal said: 'We came to the semi-final for this, to play these matches and win them. Now, it’s time to rest and focus on the match against France.' He added: 'We beat France the last two times we played them. We’re not afraid. There are two options… either they reach three consecutive World Cup finals, or we beat them three times. I don’t know what might happen, but we’re not afraid.'
Coach's perspective
Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente acknowledged France's quality, calling them 'one of the teams that has played the best in the World Cup.' However, he insisted his side will take the game to Didier Deschamps' men. 'It’s legitimate and fair to think that we’re going to work to try and beat France,' De la Fuente said. 'I think they’ll be just as worried. We’re the only team in the world that has managed to beat them two games in a row, we’ve done it. But this third game is going to be different. Two great teams are going to face off.'
France's form
France have been the standout team of the tournament, securing their semi-final spot with an impressive 2-0 win over Morocco on Thursday. They are aiming for a third consecutive World Cup final appearance.
