"If any team should be afraid, it's France," Yamal stated after Spain's 2-1 quarterfinal victory over Belgium at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California on 10/7. "Spain has beaten them twice. In my opinion, these are the two strongest teams in the World Cup. We will wait and see what happens, but we are not intimidated."

This upcoming semifinal marks the third encounter between Spain and France in the past three years. Spain emerged victorious in both previous matches: a 2-1 win in the Euro 2024 semifinals and a thrilling 5-4 triumph in the UEFA Nations League 2025 semifinals. Yamal left his mark in both, scoring a spectacular goal in the Euro 2024 semifinal and a brace in the Nations League match. A day before Spain's quarterfinal win, France defeated Morocco 2-0, setting up this highly anticipated clash, dubbed an "early final" for the World Cup 2026.

Lamine Yamal celebrates after Spain's 2-1 victory over Belgium in the World Cup 2026 quarterfinals at Los Angeles, USA on 10/7. Photo: AP

Like France, Spain entered the World Cup 2026 as a top contender. However, coach Luis de la Fuente's squad has not consistently delivered convincing performances, despite reaching the semifinals. Yamal suggested that opponents often play defensively, making it difficult for him and his teammates to perform at their best. "Perhaps people think we haven't played well, but every team that faces Spain drops deep to defend," the 18-year-old forward noted. "No team has dared to play an open game against us. The most important thing is that we won again today. The whole team has come a long way and wants to continue advancing to the final."

Spain's path to the semifinals included a 0-0 draw with Cape Verde in the group stage, followed by 4-0 and 1-0 victories against Saudi Arabia and Uruguay, respectively. They easily defeated Austria 3-0 in the round of 16. However, their progress in the subsequent two rounds against Portugal and Belgium relied on late goals from substitute midfielder Mikel Merino.

This marks Spain's second World Cup semifinal appearance since their 2010 triumph. Meanwhile, France is aiming for their third consecutive final, having won in 2018 and finished as runners-up in 2022.

Coach De la Fuente praised his players' resilience and believed Spain deserved a larger winning margin against Belgium. The 65-year-old coach expressed confidence that Spain possesses the squad quality needed to defeat France, but they must perform at their best. "Expectations for the upcoming match are very high," he said. "We will do everything to defeat France. They will also be worried about us, as Spain is the only team in the world to have beaten them twice consecutively."

De la Fuente also dismissed the idea that he has reached a higher level compared to when he led Spain to the Euro 2024 championship and the Nations League 2025 runner-up title. "I don't think I'm in a higher position," he stated. "Every day I want to become a better coach. We always thoroughly analyze opponents and players before each match. After the match ends, all assessments are easier, but every decision is made based on meticulous preparation and a deep understanding of the team and the opponent."

By Hong Duy.