Ibrahima Konaté fires back at Lamine Yamal’s “fear” claim before France vs. Spain World Cup semifinal
The new Real Madrid defender addressed the Barcelona star’s bold message while insisting Les Bleus will not be distracted ahead of Tuesday’s game.
Ibrahima Konaté, a France international and new Real Madrid player, addressed the highly anticipated World Cup semifinal matchup with Spain, where he will come up against Lamine Yamal.
The French defender was asked about Yamal’s recent comments that France should be afraid of Spain because La Roja had already eliminated them in the past.
Konaté was quick to dismiss the idea of fear entering France’s preparations.
“He can say whatever he wants. No, no, fear is not the right word. You should never be afraid of anyone. You have to remain humble and avoid falling into that trap, especially at this stage of the competition.”
Konaté focused on France’s preparation, not the noise
The Real Madrid newcomer insisted France’s attention is firmly on the semifinal itself rather than the outside conversation surrounding the match.
“Honestly, we don’t listen to what is being said. We are going to try to prepare as well as possible, and at the end of the game we will see who comes out on top.”
Konaté also made it clear that France’s plan will not revolve solely around stopping Yamal, despite the teenager being one of Spain’s biggest attacking threats.
France defender praises Spain’s collective strength
“We are not just thinking about stopping Lamine. Spain is an exceptional team with a lot of individual quality. The objective is not to focus on one particular player because it is the whole team that can hurt you.”
The center-back highlighted Spain’s attacking ability across the pitch, pointing to their collective approach rather than relying on one standout player.
“We are going to talk about what they offer from the beginning because what they produce offensively is quite exceptional. But I think it is a collective effort, from the midfielders, the defenders and Maignan as well.”
Konaté also praised an often-overlooked part of Spain’s game: their pressing after losing possession.
“It is incredible what they offer. Maybe we do not talk enough about the counter-pressing because what they produce offensively is quite exceptional. We are not going to focus only on that.”
Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that of this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.