Lamine Yamal Responds to Criticism with Style and a Goal
In the world of football, where every move is scrutinized and every gesture analyzed, young talents often find themselves under the microscope. Such is the case with Lamine Yamal, the 17-year-old sensation who recently found himself in the spotlight for more than just his on-field prowess. After helping Spain secure a thrilling victory over the Netherlands in the UEFA Nations League quarterfinal, Yamal had a cheeky response to some pre-match criticism.
Yamal was instrumental in Spain’s 3-3 draw at Valencia‘s Mestalla stadium, scoring the third goal for La Roja. The match eventually went to penalties, where Spain emerged victorious, setting up a semifinal clash against France in June. Despite missing his penalty in the shootout, Yamal’s performance was noteworthy, and he took to social media to address the comments made by former Dutch international Rafael van der Vaart.
Van der Vaart had criticized Yamal for his attitude and for wearing his shorts low before the game. In response, Yamal posted on Instagram, “Shorts down, a goal, a missed penalty and INTO THE SEMIFINAL, COME ON SPAIN!” The post included a series of photos, one of which featured Van der Vaart’s face alongside an image of Yamal walking off the pitch with his shorts pulled lower than usual.
Van der Vaart’s comments came after the first leg, a 2-2 draw in Rotterdam. He remarked, “I see things that are starting to bother me a little. Pants a little lower, not making much of an effort, slightly superficial gestures. That’s when I think: if you’re that young, you should be happy with every minute you play for Spain. No matter how good you are, at that age, you have to prove it every minute and in every game.”
Yamal, however, is no stranger to responding to criticism. He previously told Adrien Rabiot to “speak now” and “checkmate” after Spain knocked France out of the European Championship last summer, following comments made by the French midfielder.
In the shootout against the Netherlands, Yamal experienced a tense moment when his spot kick was saved by Bart Verbruggen. However, Unai Simón saved Donyell Malen‘s penalty, and Pedri scored the winning kick to send Spain into the semifinals.
Pedri, a teammate and fellow Barcelona player, joked about Yamal’s missed penalty, saying, “I said to him ‘What a s–t penalty.’ But no, you learn from these situations. He is not affected by pressure and you have to take a penalty to miss one. His calmness has always surprised us. It’s as if pressure doesn’t exist for him when you see the ease with which he dribbles and how he plays. He’s someone we have to take care of and, above all, enjoy.”
As the dust settles from the international break, Pedri and Yamal, along with other Barça players, face a quick turnaround as they prepare for a crucial LaLiga fixture against Osasuna on Thursday. “We are a little tired, but we’re Barça, if they say we have to play Thursday we will, and we will give everything to win LaLiga,” Pedri added.
- Barcelona and Real Madrid are currently tied at the top of the LaLiga table.
- They are four points clear of Atlético Madrid.
- Barcelona has a game in hand, which could be decisive in the title race.
However, Barcelona might be without Ronald Araújo and Raphinha for the match, as both players are involved in World Cup qualifying games in South America. The club’s other international players, including Fermín López, Pablo Torre, and Gerard Martín, are expected to return in time, as Spain’s Under-21 side has allowed them to miss Tuesday’s game against Germany.
Originally Written by: Sam Marsden,Moises Llorens
