Jules Koundé, the French national team defender, sent a message to his teammates ahead of the highly anticipated semi-final against Spain in the 2026 World Cup, urging them not to get distracted by the statements made by Lamine Yamal following 'La Roja's' qualification.

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Yamal had stated after the victory over Belgium that France should be the one to fear Spain, citing 'La Roja's' superiority in the last two direct encounters between the two teams. Koundé responded to his Barcelona teammate's comments by saying he knows Lamine Yamal well, noting that he is an ambitious player who always says what he believes, emphasizing that considering a team the favorite to win the title means nothing on the pitch.

The French defender added that he is not bothered by Yamal's comments at all, but rather handles them calmly, explaining that such statements are normal in football and should not affect the French team's focus.

Koundé acknowledged that France lost the last two encounters against Spain, in the Euro 2024 semi-final and then in the UEFA Nations League semi-final, but stressed that those results are not a concern for the players, confirming that their focus is entirely on securing victory and reaching the World Cup final.