Spain barely scraped into the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinals, securing a tight 2-1 win over Belgium on Friday. But man, it was hardly a performance to inspire confidence, especially with Lamine Yamal's struggles continuing to mount. Alexi Lalas didn't pull any punches, saying, "I don't know if it's a great team. The rhythm and the beauty, for lack of a better word, that we've associated with them has not yet really found its way in this tournament." That about sums it up.
Yamal's Struggles Front-and-Center
This kid, Lamine Yamal, he's 18 and undeniably talented, but he's gone a fourth-straight match without a goal contribution. It's a rough stretch. Lalas called it, saying Yamal "was stymied," adding he's "yet to have a breakout type of game" this World Cup. Spain got goals from Fabián Ruiz and Mikel Merino, but Yamal has only one goal himself and zero assists all tournament. His xG sits at 1.54 and xA at 1.01, which isn't what you'd expect from a player with his rep. He even won Man of the Match on Friday, but couldn't get quality touches in the box, and only two of his six shots were on target. Spain's attack has scored 11 goals in six matches but managed two or fewer in four of those, and Yamal is right in the middle of those scoring woes. The only good news is that the goal they gave up to Belgium was their first conceded all tournament.A Lucky Break Before France
Let's be real, Spain got a huge break in that Belgium game. Belgium's keeper, Thibaut Courtois, one of the best in the world, had to leave in the 71st minute due to injury. Lalas nailed it: "It's not just taking off a goalkeeper; it's taking off one of the great goalkeepers in the world." And what happened next? Spain's winning goal in the 88th minute came when Mikel Merino buried a rebound after substitute keeper Senne Lemmens couldn't corral a save. Lalas summed up the vibe: "And, as the soccer Gods would have it, it ultimately leads to the goal that Spain wins the game on. Spain goes on. What more can you say about this game?" Yamal's teammates, meanwhile, are showing up off the bench, putting some serious pressure on him. Now, Spain is in the semifinals for the first time since their 2010 World Cup win, and they're facing France on Tuesday. Spain has a solid track record against France lately, winning their last two matches, including the UEFA Euro 2024 semifinals. Yamal himself has a crazy personal record, winning all five knockout stage matches against Kylian Mbappé in his career. Still, France has arguably looked like a strong contender, so Spain needs Yamal and the rest of the attack to find their rhythm, and fast.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.