Lamine Yamal enjoys birthday with a kickabout and a show before France World Cup semi-final test
France squad
- Full squad
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1 Brice SAMBA Goalkeeper
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2 Malo GUSTO Defender
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3 Lucas Digne Defender
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4 Dayot UPAMECANO Defender
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5 Jules KOUNDE Defender
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6 Manu KONE Midfielder
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7 Ousmane DEMBELE Forward
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8 Aurelien TCHOUAMENI Midfielder
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9 Marcus THURAM Forward
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10 Kylian MBAPPE Forward
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11 Michael OLISE Forward
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12 Bradley BARCOLA Forward
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13 Ngolo KANTE Midfielder
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14 Adrien RABIOT Midfielder
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15 Ibrahima KONATE Defender
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16 Mike MAIGNAN Goalkeeper
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17 William SALIBA Defender
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18 Warren ZAIRE-EMERY Midfielder
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19 Theo HERNANDEZ Defender
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20 Desire DOUE Forward
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21 Lucas HERNANDEZ Defender
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22 Jean-Philippe MATETA Forward
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23 Robin RISSER Goalkeeper
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24 Rayan CHERKI Midfielder
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25 Maghnes AKLIOUCHE Midfielder
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26 Maxence Lacroix Defender
Spain squad
- Full squad
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1 David RAYA Goalkeeper
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2 Marc PUBILL Defender
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3 Alex GRIMALDO Defender
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4 Eric GARCIA Defender
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5 Marcos LLORENTE Defender
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6 Mikel MERINO Midfielder
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7 Ferran TORRES Forward
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8 Fabian RUIZ Midfielder
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9 GAVI Midfielder
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10 Dani OLMO Forward
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11 Yeremy PINO Forward
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12 Pedro PORRO Defender
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13 Joan GARCIA Goalkeeper
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14 Aymeric LAPORTE Defender
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15 Alex BAENA Midfielder
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16 RODRI Midfielder
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17 Nico WILLIAMS Forward
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18 Martin ZUBIMENDI Midfielder
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19 Lamine YAMAL Forward
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20 PEDRI Midfielder
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21 Mikel OYARZABAL Forward
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22 Pau CUBARSI Defender
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23 Unai SIMON Goalkeeper
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24 Marc CUCURELLA Defender
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25 Victor MUNOZ Forward
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26 Borja IGLESIAS Forward
Spain's teenage star Lamine Yamal celebrated his 19th birthday with a training session and an upbeat pre-match press conference ahead of the World Cup semi-final against France in Dallas. Rather than showing nerves before one of the biggest matches of his career, the Barcelona forward brushed off talk of pressure, insisting football pales in comparison with life's real difficulties, while still expressing confidence in Spain's chances as reigning European champions.
Yamal marked the day by training alongside fellow birthday boy Víctor Muñoz, arrived at the press conference wearing a new diamond chain he admitted buying for himself, and said his real wish was a win against France rather than gifts. He noted he had scored in his two previous appearances against France, aged 16 and 17, but has managed only one goal at this World Cup so far, adding he "accepts the challenge" of proving doubters wrong. Head coach Luis de la Fuente said he hoped Yamal's best moment at the tournament was still to come, ideally in Wednesday's semi-final or the final itself.
In short
- Lamine Yamal turned 19 before Spain's World Cup semi-final against France.
- He downplayed pressure, calling football easier than life's real challenges.
- Coach De la Fuente hopes Yamal's standout World Cup moment is imminent.
Explained simply
Spain are the defending European football champions and have reached the World Cup semi-final against France on Wednesday in Dallas. The winner will progress to the World Cup final, making this one of the most important matches in international football.
Lamine Yamal is Spain's 19-year-old forward for Barcelona who has become a key player for the Spanish national team. He has faced France in previous international matches but has scored only once at this World Cup so far.
France are one of the tournament's strongest remaining teams and have also progressed to the semi-final. Both nations are seeking to secure their place in the World Cup final.
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