Lamine Yamal Marking Changes Impact Spain's World Cup Run

During Spain's 2-1 victory over Belgium in the World Cup, Barcelona's 21-year-old star Lamine Yamal experienced a change in marking when Belgian coach substituted left-back Joaquin Seys for Maxim de Cuyper in the 61st minute. The fresh defender, aided by Doku, managed to increase pressure on the young Spanish winger who had been gaining the upper hand in one-on-one battles.

Despite committing more errors under the new defensive approach, Yamal remained impactful, testing Courtois with a shot and providing a brilliant pass to Oyarzabal that nearly resulted in a goal. The 21-year-old's ability to draw defenders proved crucial to Spain's advancement to the semifinals, as his presence consistently conditioned the Belgian defense throughout the match. afnews.co.za