Lamine Yamal is done playing it safe. Spain’s teenage winger told Tiempo de Juego that after weeks of rehab and cautious minutes off the bench, he’s ready to go a full 90 in the World Cup knockout round. That’s a big deal for a Spanish attack that has looked stuck in neutral through the group stage.
Yamal came into this tournament as one of Spain’s most dangerous weapons. But a nagging injury forced him to take it easy early on. He admitted he’s been playing at maybe 80 to 90 percent. He also said he’s been picking his spots, not sprinting at full speed for loose balls he might have chased last summer. Against Uruguay he held back because Spain had already advanced to the next round. That’s smart. But it’s not the version of Yamal anyone expected to see.
Now he says the kid gloves are off.
Yamal on His Fitness and the Coach’s Call
“I’m very well, very happy,” Yamal said. “I have trained with a lot of desire and am excited to get to this moment. I’m at 90-80% and getting better. It doesn’t go down. I’m ready for 90 minutes.”
He also acknowledged that the final decision belongs to Luis de la Fuente. “The coach decides. I’ll tell him how I’m doing and if I can stand it.” That sounds like a young player who knows his body and also knows not to overstep.
Winning Over Style
When asked if Spain is playing at the same level it did when it won the Euros, Yamal didn’t dodge. He basically said: who cares. “I have played well many times with Barça and we have gone home, but the important thing is to win.” He admitted Spain can improve. He said they’re better than what they’ve shown. But he made it clear the priority is results, not pretty possession numbers.
“People are saying that we can play better but we have in our head that with calm, the first is to win and then we will improve.” That sounds like a team that knows it hasn’t hit its ceiling but also knows it’s still alive.
Pedri and Rodri Bring the Calm
Yamal also shouted out his Barcelona teammate Pedri and Manchester City’s Rodri for keeping things steady in the middle of the park. “They are very good,” he said. “I haven’t seen Rodri at the end of the season but Pedri is doing very well.”
He added that the midfield duo will look even better if Spain keeps winning. “If the results accompany, we would see them better. You have to trust. The group stage is no longer worth anything.”
Pressure? He Feels It. He Likes It.
Yamal was asked about the weight of being Spain’s most exciting young talent. He didn’t downplay it. “I understand that people are going to target the player who excites the most. Pedri and Rodri are great but the pressure I have, I’m Barça’s 10, the winger. But I’m happy with this. The pressure is when you can’t do what they ask you but I can.”
He also admitted he’s been watching every World Cup game. He said Germany’s elimination was more surprising than the Netherlands’ because that tie was tighter on paper.
On his first World Cup goal, which came in Spain’s second group match, he didn’t hold back. “I have never felt so much happiness. The World Cup is different and it is with your country.” He added that he usually doesn’t get emotional. He doesn’t cry. But he did cry when he got injured and saw his mother crying. “If I win the World Cup I won’t cry,” he said. “It’s impossible.”
That last line might be the most honest thing he said all day.
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