Yamal eyes chance to rival Mbappe on World Cup stage

ARLINGTON: Spain forward Lamine Yamal will look to take another step toward matching Kylian Mbappe's early World Cup achievement when his side faces France in Tuesday's semi-final, with the teenage Barcelona player hoping to win the tournament before leaving his teens.

Mbappe was 19 years and 207 days old when he scored for France against Croatia in the 2018 World Cup final, becoming only the second teenager after Pele in 1958 to score in the showpiece match. The France captain, now 27, is chasing a third straight appearance in the final after winning the trophy in 2018 and scoring a hat-trick in the 2022 final.

For Yamal, this is a first World Cup, but he has already broken through on a major international stage. In the Euro 2024 semi-final, his goal against France helped Spain beat Mbappe's side 2-1. That match came four days before his 17th birthday, and Spain then went on to defeat England in the final, where Yamal was named young player of the tournament.

His 19th birthday now falls on the eve of Spain's semi-final in Arlington. Yamal arrived at the tournament after an injury scare, having missed the end of Barcelona's season because of a hamstring problem. In late May, he said he had feared the issue could keep him out of the World Cup.

Yamal said the concern was not only about the seriousness of the injury, but also the possibility of a recurrence that might rule him out of 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 off the bench in Spain's opening 0-0 draw with Cape Verde, Yamal started against Saudi Arabia, scored, and was then withdrawn at half-time in a 4-0 win. He has kept his place in the starting line-up since then, but has not added to that goal.

Spain captain Rodri said on Sunday that Yamal needs to manage the eagerness he sometimes shows in trying to underline his value 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 had already shown at the European Championship, saying that with two more years behind him, his level should not come as a surprise.

"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 Euro 2024, Spain have not always shown the same direct attacking edge that made them so difficult to contain in that tournament. France, by contrast, have found the attacking sharpness that eluded them at the Euros and now boast one of the most dangerous forward lines at this World Cup.

Mbappe is central to that push. He has eight goals in the tournament, putting 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. A place in another final would also allow Mbappe to equal Cafu's feat of appearing in three successive World Cup finals from 1994 to 2002. Pele and Diego Maradona each played in two finals.

After France's last-32 win over Sweden at MetLife Stadium, which will host the final, Mbappe said statistics were not his focus and that his priority was helping France 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"

He made a similar point after the quarter-final victory over Morocco, saying that while he has already won a World Cup and finished runner-up, many in the current France side have done neither, despite what he described as their huge potential.

"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"

The pair have also developed a growing rivalry at club and international level. Across meetings in the Clasico divide over the last two years, Mbappe has suffered eight defeats and recorded two wins in 10 matches against Yamal with club and country.

Both players are already major figures in their home countries and beyond, with Mbappe carrying greater experience and a previous World Cup title, while Yamal is still trying to establish an equally strong presence beyond the pitch. Tuesday's semi-final offers the Spain teenager another chance to test himself against the player whose World Cup path he is trying to follow.