A VETERAN French star tried to get into the head of Spanish wonderkid Lamine Yamal, telling him he should “do much more”.
Spain face France in the Euro 2024 semi-final tonight in Munich.
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And in the build-up to the much-anticipated clash, Adrien Rabiot wants to make sure 16-year-old Yamal is feeling the pressure.
The Barcelona youngster has been in fine form for his country so far in the tournament and has started each of Spain’s five matches.
Yamal has recorded three assists so far at the Euros, including providing Dani Olmo’s opening goal in the quarter-final victory over Germany.
Fans and experts from across the continent praised the teenager’s mature performances on the big stage this summer.
But now former PSG and Juventus midfielder Rabiot, who has just become a free agent, has stated that now Yamal will feel the real pressure.
And the 29-year-old says the French stars need to make him feel the heat as they prepare to fight for a place in Sunday’s final.
Rabiot told reporters at the pre-match press conference: “We saw that he was a player who knew how to deal with pressure very well.
“He has many qualities. He is capable of playing to his strengths both at clubs and in major tournaments, without pressure.
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“Afterwards, it is always difficult to reach a semi-final in a tournament like this, but it will be up to us to pressure him above all else, not to let him feel comfortable and to show him that playing in a Euro Final, he will have to do much more than what you have done so far.”
Rabiot’s comments apparently did not go unnoticed by Yamal.
He appears to have responded to them with his latest Instagram post.
The talented teenager posted an image of a hand moving a chess piece along with a subtle message.
It said: “Move in silence. Only speak when it’s time to checkmate.”
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Yamal became the first teenager to record three assists in a single edition of the men’s European Championship or World Cup since 1966 on Friday.
Spain’s youngest-ever player is also the fourth man to score three goals in a single Euro for La Roja.
He has now joined Cesc Fabregas, David Silva and Olmo on that list.
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
