Spain’s supporters were given a vivid homecoming as Lamine Yamal drove a 4-1 win over Croatia, scoring twice and supplying an assist in a night that placed the Barcelona teenager at the centre of everything.
The opening blow arrived after barely a minute and a half, setting the tone for a Spanish performance built on a fast start. “We have to be switched on from the beginning, and things are going well for us,” Yamal said after the match.
There was an unusual familiarity in the duel at the other end. Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livaković is Yamal’s Barcelona team-mate, and the forward admitted that knowing him from training had been useful. “I know him from the sessions. I have seen what he does and, fortunately, it went in,” he said of his finishing.
Yamal’s two goals and assist carried Spain clear in the 4-1 victory, while the occasion also allowed the side to play in front of their own public. The prospect of bringing the World Cup trophy home remains a powerful motivation for the squad.
“It means a great deal to us to be able to bring the Cup here,” Yamal said. “They had been waiting for a World Cup for years and they deserved it very much, so we are very happy.”
Asked whether the display was another statement in his pursuit of the Ballon d’Or, Yamal answered with a smile: “Another one.” The voting has already closed, but the young Spaniard continues to add emphatic performances to his case.
