Ralf Rangnick, to his credit, has a plan.
The Austria head coach laid out his approach to containing Spain’s Lamine Yamal ahead of their FIFA World Cup round-of-32 match on July 2, 2026, in Inglewood, California. Rangnick described Yamal as an “excellent player” who could dominate the game for the next 12 to 14 years, and stressed that his side must limit the winger’s space and, critically, his opportunities to dribble.
The Yamal problem
Yamal underlined the point emphatically in Spain’s 4-0 demolition of Saudi Arabia on June 22, where he scored the opening goal and tormented the opposing defense for the full match.
The Austrian coach went further, suggesting that if Yamal maintains his focus and avoids significant injuries, he could reach a skill level comparable to Messi.
