Yamal and Mbappe set for another high-profile World Cup meeting

ARLINGTON: Spain's Lamine Yamal and France captain Kylian Mbappe will meet again in Tuesday's World Cup semi-final, with the teenage winger seeking to move a step closer to matching Mbappe's feat of winning the tournament at a young age.

Mbappe was 19 years and 207 days old when he scored in France's victory over Croatia in the 2018 final, becoming only the second teenager after Pele in 1958 to score in a World Cup final. Yamal, meanwhile, is playing in his first World Cup, but he has already made a major impact in international tournament football.

His goal in Spain's Euro 2024 semi-final win over France helped secure a 2-1 result just four days before his 17th birthday. Spain went on to beat England in the final, and Yamal was named the tournament's young player. This time, his 19th birthday falls on the eve of the semi-final in Arlington.

Yamal's build-up to the World Cup was affected by a hamstring problem that caused him to miss the end of Barcelona's season and briefly raised concerns over his availability. Speaking in late May, he said he feared the injury could cost him a place at the tournament.

I was afraid it might be serious and, above all, that even if it wasn't serious, I could suffer a setback and end up missing the World Cup.

After coming on as a substitute in Spain's opening 0-0 draw with Cape Verde, Yamal started against Saudi Arabia, scored, and was replaced at half-time in a 4-0 win. He has started each game since then but has not added to that goal.

Spain captain Rodri said on Sunday that the teenager needed to manage his eagerness to prove his importance to the team.

I think Lamine needs to calm the anxiety he sometimes has because he wants to show how important a player he is for us.

Rodri also pointed to the maturity Yamal showed at the European Championship.

Given he was able to show that level of maturity at that European Championship, when he is two years older you are not so impressed by what he is able to do.

With Yamal less decisive than he was at the Euros, Spain have not shown the same direct attacking threat that made them difficult to contain in that competition. France, by contrast, have found more sharpness in attack than they managed at Euro 2024, and arrive with one of the most dangerous forward lines at this World Cup.

Mbappe, now 27, heads that attack and has eight goals at the tournament. That puts him level with Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot and one short of Messi's all-time World Cup record of 21 goals.

Mbappe targets another final

Having lifted the trophy in 2018 and scored a hat-trick in the 2022 final, Mbappe is aiming to reach a third successive World Cup final. If France make the decider again, he will match Brazil full-back Cafu's run of appearing in three consecutive finals from 1994 to 2002. Pele and Diego Maradona each played in two finals.

Questions had been raised by some Real Madrid supporters during the second half of the season, when Mbappe missed a period through injury. After France beat Sweden in the last 32 at MetLife Stadium, where the final will also be played, he said his focus was on helping his team return there on July 19.

I know people talk about the stats. I watch the TV too. But my only focus is on helping the team and getting us back here on July 19.

After France's quarter-final win over Morocco, Mbappe also said the current side had significant promise despite not yet winning or finishing runners-up at a World Cup as a group.

I have won a World Cup and been a runner-up. This team has done neither of those things, but it is the team with the greatest potential.

Yamal and Mbappe as leading figures for a modern, multicultural Europe. Mbappe's greater experience, his World Cup title and his comfort speaking publicly in English have helped make him one of the faces of the tournament in the United States, while Yamal is still developing his profile away from the pitch.

On the field, however, Yamal has enjoyed notable success in meetings involving Mbappe. Across club and international football over the last two years, Mbappe has suffered eight defeats and recorded only two wins in 10 matches against the Spain winger.