Spain have no reason to be intimidated by France, claims Yamal ahead of World Cup clash

Lamine Yamal marked his 19th birthday on Monday, and as he looked ahead to Spain's World Cup semi-final against France, he made it clear that he would not be intimidated by the opposition.

n

Yamal had previously sparked interest with his comments after Spain's 2-1 quarter-final win over Belgium, suggesting that France should be the ones who are "afraid" due to their recent losses to Spain.

n

During a press conference on Monday, a relaxed Yamal addressed the media, explaining that when asked if he feared France, his response was simply "no".

n

He justified his confidence by pointing out that Spain are the European champions, and that the upcoming match is "simply football", according to the teenager.

n

Yamal celebrated his birthday by treating himself to a new chunky jewel-encrusted necklace, which he wore to the press conference, but he admitted that the best gift would be a win on Tuesday and a place in the World Cup final.

n

Despite not having received many birthday gifts yet, Yamal hinted that a victory on Tuesday would be the perfect present, and he even mentioned a potential trip to New York as an added incentive.

n

Unlike some of the other top players in the tournament, who have been scoring goals prolifically, Yamal has only found the net once so far, but he is eager to add to his tally against France.

n

When asked about his goal-scoring aspirations, Yamal stated that while he does not focus solely on scoring, he acknowledges that finding the net in a high-stakes match like this one would be special, and he is ready to accept the challenge.

n

Yamal described the upcoming match as a "beautiful match for the spectators" and acknowledged that it is the game everyone has been waiting for.

n

Despite the significance of the match, Yamal remains calm and composed, stating that there are more difficult situations in life than a football match, and he does not feel any extra pressure.

n

He expressed his intention to approach the game with his usual mindset, giving his all for the team and playing to the best of his ability, without letting the occasion get to him.