Spain's captain, Rodri, has encouraged young winger Lamine Yamal to manage his "anxiety" and "calm down a bit" as the team faces France in a highly anticipated World Cup semifinal. Rodri, a midfielder, noted that Yamal, despite his immense talent, sometimes plays with an urgency that can detract from his natural explosiveness.
"He's a very important player for us because of what he does with and without the ball, and he's a very intelligent guy," Rodri said. "It's true that he's 19 years old and that we have to calm him down at certain moments of the game."
Yamal, the youngest player to reach 10 major tournament matches, has faced scrutiny over his goal-scoring record during the World Cup. He arrived at the tournament carrying a minor injury and has not replicated his prolific form for Barcelona. However, the teenager remains focused on team success over individual statistics.
"If we win the World Cup, I think nobody will remember how many goals I scored or how many I didn't," Yamal stated. "If we win, we'll all be happy. That's all I want. I know that with my movement I draw a lot of opponents away; I can create space for a teammate. Anything I can do to help, even if I don't touch the ball in a play, will be a positive."
Rodri acknowledged Yamal's growth in maturity since Spain's Euro 2024 victory, highlighting the young player's willingness to learn and integrate feedback from senior squad members. "He's a very mature young man who still has room to improve when it comes to reading the game, which is completely normal for his age, but we already know the level he's at," Rodri added.
Regarding the semifinal clash with France, Yamal expressed confidence, referencing Spain's recent victories over Les Bleus. Rodri, however, anticipates a more tightly contested match than their previous high-scoring encounter in the Nations League, expecting a "much more solid French side that will be tough to break down."