Spain will face France in a World Cup semifinal in Dallas on July 14, following a 2-1 victory over Belgium in the quarterfinals. Spain’s Lamine Yamal stated after the match that the team has “no fear” of the French side, citing their previous encounter in the Euro 2024 semifinals as a source of confidence.
Lamine Yamal dismisses fear ahead of France clash
Following Spain’s quarterfinal win, 19-year-old standout Lamine Yamal positioned the upcoming semifinal as the matchup the world has been anticipating since the tournament began. Yamal described the pairing as a meeting of the two best teams in the competition.
“We have no fear at all,” Yamal said. “I believe if any team can face France with confidence, it is us.”
The confidence stems from a recent tactical victory; Spain defeated France 2-1 in the Euro 2024 semifinals in Germany. Yamal played a critical role in that match, scoring the goal that shifted the momentum in Munich. Despite a recent injury layoff, Yamal has returned to form in the current tournament, though he currently holds no stated goal count. He told reporters that individual statistics are secondary to the team’s success, stating, “As long as we win the World Cup, I don’t care if I score or not.”
Mikel Merino’s late-game impact against Belgium
Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino has emerged as a decisive factor for Spain, earning the nickname “Saint Merino” from the newspaper Mundo Deportivo. Merino scored the winning goal in the 88th minute against Belgium, just two minutes after entering the match.
This goal follows a pattern of high-stakes contributions. Merino previously scored the lone goal in a 1-0 victory over Portugal in the round of 16 and provided a crucial goal against Germany in the Euro 2024 quarterfinals. Addressing the timing of his goals, Merino said, “I don’t believe this is a coincidence. If I’ve managed these three goals in such important moments, it’s because I prepare specifically for these situations.”
Breaking Unai Simon’s clean sheet record
While Spain controlled possession and chances against Belgium, the match marked the end of a significant defensive streak. Belgian player Charles De Ketelaere scored a 41st-minute equalizer, becoming the first player to score against Spanish goalkeeper Unai Simon in the tournament.
The goal ended Simon’s record run of 649 minutes without conceding. Spain had initially taken the lead in the 30th minute through Fabián Ruiz before Merino’s late strike secured the 2-1 result.
Comparing the paths to the semifinals
Spain enters the semifinal with a distinct psychological edge and a strong unbeaten run, having not lost a competitive match in 37 games, with their only setbacks coming via penalty shootouts. This represents a major breakthrough for the 2010 champions, who had failed to progress past the round of 16 in the two World Cups following their title win.
France, conversely, arrives with a potent offensive record. Kylian Mbappé and the French attack have scored 16 goals across six matches in the current tournament. France has also reached the World Cup final in both 2018 and 2022, giving them a recent history of deep tournament runs that Spain is now looking to match.
The return of Nico Williams, who appeared as a substitute against Belgium and nearly scored the winning goal, provides Spain with additional attacking depth heading into the Dallas fixture.
Match Details: Spain vs. France
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | July 14 |
| Venue | Dallas, USA |
| Kickoff | 21:00 Local Time |
| Stakes | World Cup Final Berth |
Spain and France will meet in Dallas on July 14 at 21:00 local time to determine who advances to the World Cup final. Share your predictions for the matchup in the comments below.
/data/photo/2026/07/09/6a4f753fa70e3.png)