14 July,2026 01:33 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente (Pic: AFP)
Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente believes teenage sensation Lamine Yamal is yet to produce his best moment at the FIFA World Cup 2026, backing the forward to shine in the blockbuster semi-final against France.
The Barcelona prodigy celebrated his 19th birthday just a day before this high-stakes semifinal at Dallas Stadium, prompting his manager to encourage him to play with freedom instead of carrying the weight of pressure on his young shoulders.
"I've told him there is no need to worry - let him enjoy himself. I'm sure Lamine's great World Cup day is still to come. I hope it's tomorrow and, if not, then in the final, if we can get there," De la Fuente told reporters.
Teenage sensation Yamal started the tournament building up fitness following a hamstring problem picked up during a Barcelona match in late April.
While Spain chase their first World Cup final appearance since their historic 2010 triumph, France want to reach their third straight final after winning in 2018 and finishing as runners-up in 2022. The teams met in Spain's dramatic 5-4 win over France in last year's UEFA Nations League semifinal.
"We learn a lot from those matches, as they will have done. We will try to repeat the scenarios where situations were favourable to us and not the others," he said.
The Spanish coach expects a clash of contrasting playing styles and acknowledged France's incredible attacking depth.
"We've analysed them very, very thoroughly. They have players of exceptional calibre, but so do we. The key is to impose our own characteristics and style, and to neutralise the opposition. That's football. The more balanced side is usually closer to winning, although that's no guarantee," he added.
France enters the game with a perfect defensive record in the knockout phase under Didier Deschamps, who is set to break the record for most World Cup games managed at 26. While Deschamps labelled Spain as the favourites, De la Fuente refused to accept that tag.
"Being told you are favourites or not means nothing. We are both great teams, like in the other semi-final. I don't understand why people say such things because whether we're the favourites or not is completely irrelevant," said the Spain coach.
(With inputs from ANI)
