World Cup 2026 live updates: Spain leads France 2-0 in second half
After Spain’s quarterfinal win over Belgium, superstar Spanish teenage striker Lamine Yamal told reporters that “if France should fear anyone, it’s us.”
“We have knocked them out (during 2024 European Championships and 2024-25 Nations League), we have beat them two times,” Yamal said. “Honestly, I think we’re the two best teams at the World Cup, so we’ll see what happens, but we do not have any fear.”
French midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery shrugged off the 19-year-old’s words when asked about them at a news conference yesterday.
Kylian Mbappé of France is challenged by Lamine Yamal of Spain during the UEFA Nations League semifinal match in 2025. Maciej Rogowski / Getty Images file
“Lamine has extraordinary qualities. He can do anything, to shoot the ball, to dribble, to pass the ball. But we also have our qualities,” Zaire-Emery said yesterday via a translator. “It’s a collective sport, and before talking about Lamine Yamal, we should talk about all of Spain. They have world-class players on all positions, and the same goes for our squad.”
Asked later if he thought Yamal’s declaration was excessive, Zaire-Emery again tried to move past making a declaration hismelf.
“We’re the French national team. We’re not scared of anybody,” he said.
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