Most people who turn 19 celebrate their birthday by getting together with friends or family. In some ways, is doing the same, except he and his Spain team-mates hope it comes with a celebratory victory of the .
Still in his teenage years, Yamal is already entrenched in , and what better way to mark his 19th journey around the sun than the belated gift of victory at on Tuesday.
“Above all, I’d like to congratulate him today as it’s his birthday, and we’ll give him whatever he needs tomorrow,” said defender Pedro Porro on Monday. “I’ll be there at the back, along with Marcos [Llorente], and we’ll be there for him and for the team, which is the most important thing.”
While Yamal may not boast the same goalscoring totals of a Kylian Mbappe or Lionel Messi in this tournament - the Barcelona man has just one goal to their eight apiece - his contribution at both ends has been impactful.
“Lamine has done a brilliant job both in attack and defence,” said Porro. “In the end, he’s the player who’s won back the most balls. And that’s because he’s involved defensively. He’s a very important player. People are giving him a real hard time, which isn’t normal, but it’s also very good for him.”
Forward Alex Baena echoed that sentiment, stressing that the stats don’t tell the entire story.
“I expect him to carry on as he has done so far,” said Baena. “If he can help us with another goal or an assist, that’d be great, but I think he’s having a magnificent tournament. Perhaps people think he has to score three goals in every match – which he’s capable of – but he’s helping the team enormously defensively, contributing a lot to the game that people might not see. I think he’s having a great tournament and hopefully he can carry on like that tomorrow.”
Porro was also quick to remind that Yamal entered these global finals hobbled with a hamstring injury, so considering that hurdle and his ability to overcome it, he feels the birthday boy is poised for something special against Les Bleus.
“I hope it’s Lamine’s day. I’ve thought he’s looked very good since he came back from injury,” said Porro. “I’ve suffered that injury myself, and it takes a bit of time to get back into the rhythm of competition, but he’s doing very well, he’s happy and getting better and better.”
Sources: FIFA Official
