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.
Konate, however, insisted France are paying little attention to the pre-match rhetoric.
Speaking during a press conference on Sunday, the Liverpool defender dismissed suggestions that Yamal’s comments had unsettled the French squad.
“No, no, no… In all honesty, we don’t listen to what’s being said. You shouldn’t be afraid of anyone; we need to remain humble and not fall into that trap, especially at this stage of the competition.”
The defender, who recently completed a move to Real Madrid and will face Yamal regularly in La Liga next season, said the focus remains on preparing for the contest rather than exchanging words.
“Now, he can say whatever he wants, we are going to try to prepare the best we can. And at the end of the match, we’ll see who it favors.”
Spain head into the semi-final with a psychological advantage, having won three of their last four meetings with France over the past decade. France’s only victory during that period came in the 2021 UEFA Nations League final, while Spain have since prevailed in the Euro 2024 semi-final and the 2025 Nations League final.
Yamal has also enjoyed a remarkable record against French captain Kylian Mbappe, winning all five of their knockout meetings, adding another intriguing subplot to Tuesday’s blockbuster encounter.
