Yamal says joy and instinct still matter in football’s mechanised era
Lamine Yamal describes winning the World Cup final with Spain as an experience driven by enjoyment rather than nerves, saying he simply wanted to keep playing. The 19-year-old forward believes football is becoming increasingly mechanised, but players with creativity and instinct can still outwit defenders and create moments of individual brilliance.
Yamal recalls how Spain felt victory was inevitable after Argentina were reduced to 10 men, before his deliberate, patient movement helped create the opening for Ferran Torres to score. The triumph adds to his European Championship success, while his embrace with Lionel Messi at the final whistle represented a symbolic passing of the torch between generations.
- Yamal says joy, not fear, shaped his World Cup final.
- Creativity helps players evade increasingly systematic defending.
- Spain’s victory adds to his European Championship success.
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Originally published by The Guardian as “Lamine Yamal: ‘Football is mechanised but players like me have that special spark’”.