Koundé says Yamal meant no 'lack of respect' in France gibe - ESPN

Jules Koundé said Monday that Spain winger Lamine Yamal's comments that France should fear the defending Euro champions ahead of their World Cup semifinal weren't a sign of disrespect.

Spain play Koundé's France side in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday, and after La Roja beat Belgium in the quarterfinals last Friday, Yamal said that France should fear them in their semifinal showdown.

«No, in no moment have we felt a lack of respect,» said Koundé, Yamal's Barcelona teammate. «I know Lamine very well. For me it's a show of his confidence. I've seen it at Barca. They have confidence in their attitudes and the team they play.

»I see it as an extra motivation for him and nothing else."

Yamal was asked again Monday about his remarks, and he didn't back down.

«I'm not surprised, I know you guys,» Yamal told reporters. «They asked me if I was afraid of France and I said no. We're European champions. It's football, like Koundé said. It's football, that's all.»

The game between FIFA's No. 1-ranked team France and No. 3 Spain is a rematch of the 2024 European Championship semifinal that Luis de la Fuente's side won 2-1 on their way to lifting the trophy.

Yamal scored a stellar goal in that game and will be a focal point for France as they look to advance to the World Cup final for the third tournament in a row. But France midfielder Adrien Rabiot said defending Spain is not entirely about shutting down Yamal.

«We don't have a specific plan for Yamal. We're focused on the whole Spanish team, not on one player,» Rabiot said. «We know they're dangerous everywhere. Him, their front line, their ball possession, the way they play in small places near the box, their passing game.

»We need to focus on all of that I think, not on one