France defender Ibrahima Konate has brushed aside Lamine Yamal’s bold pre-match comments as the reigning European champions prepare to face Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-final on Tuesday.
The highly anticipated clash pits two of the tournament’s standout teams against each other, with Spain aiming to continue their recent dominance over Les Bleus.
Yamal, speaking after Spain’s victory over Belgium, expressed complete confidence ahead of the showdown, insisting France—not Spain—should be worried.
“If anyone should be afraid, it’s them—we’ve eliminated them. We are two great teams, for me the two best, but we have absolutely no fear. Since the World Cup started, everyone has been waiting for this game, and I really wanted it to get here. We are the two best national teams in the World Cup. With absolutely no fear, if anyone can go into a match against France with confidence, it’s us.”
The Barcelona teenager’s confidence is backed by recent results, with Spain defeating France 2-1 in the Euro 2024 semi-final before edging them 5-4 in the 2025 UEFA Nations League final.
