​The mouthwatering World Cup semifinal between France and Spain has already sparked its fair share of pre-match fireworks, with Real Madrid’s latest addition, Ibrahima Konate, entering the fray. The France defender fired back after bold comments from Barcelona star Lamine Yamal, who issued a warning to Les Bleus ahead of Tuesday’s blockbuster clash in Dallas.
Speaking after Spain’s 2-1 quarterfinal victory over Belgium, Yamal made clear his view that France should be the team feeling the pressure heading into the last-four showdown. “I think that if France has to fear anyone, it’s us, because we’ve knocked them out before,” the 16-year-old said, pointing to Spain’s recent dominance in this fixture. Spain had eliminated France in the Euro 2024 semifinals, a match in which Yamal, then 16, scored an impressive long-range goal, and they followed that up with another win over France in the UEFA Nations League semifinals the next year.
Konate, who recently completed his move to Real Madrid on a free transfer from Liverpool, did not hesitate to respond to the Barcelona forward’s remarks. “We shouldn’t be afraid of anyone. He can say whatever he wants, we’re preparing for the match in the best way possible,” Konate told Diario AS. He then emphasized the need for France to keep their composure and avoid getting drawn into mind games as they approach a fixture of such magnitude. “The important thing is to maintain the humility with which we started this competition and not fall into those kinds of traps, especially at a time like this,” he added.
Despite Konate’s readiness to speak out, it remains unlikely that he will feature in Tuesday’s semi-final. Didier Deschamps has largely depended on the center-back partnership of Dayot Upamecano and William Saliba throughout the tournament, and Konate has spent much of the event as a rotational option from the bench. On the other hand, France can expect a boost in midfield, with Aurelien Tchouameni reportedly on the path to full fitness. After an injury scare, he is expected to return and could line up for France against Spain this midweek, potentially providing a crucial spark in the middle of the park.