Yamal vs. Mbappe: Who Will Have the Last Laugh? "A Match for the Ages"

[Anchor]

The semifinals of the North and Central America World Cup begin today, July 15. France, led by top scorer Mbappe, and Spain, spearheaded by rising star Yamal, will face off today for a ticket to the final.

Reporter Hong Seok-jun has the story.

[Reporter]

A cake appears at the Spanish national team's dinner, one day before their semifinal match against France.

It is a surprise birthday party for the youngest member of the squad, Yamal, who is celebrating his 19th birthday.

Yamal's birthday wish is, naturally, a victory in the semifinal match.

[Yamal / Spain National Football Team Midfielder: My birthday wish is, of course, to beat France. We will all stand united until the final and fight to win the championship.]

Yamal has recently been a "France killer."

He scored one goal in the 2024 European Championship semifinals and two goals in last year's Nations League semifinals, leading his team to victory against France.

[Luis de la Fuente / Spain National Football Team Head Coach: Yamal's 'best day' has yet to come. I hope that day will be tomorrow. If not tomorrow, then I hope it will be in the final.]

France's Mbappe, currently the top scorer of the tournament and aiming for his second consecutive Golden Boot, has shaken off a minor ankle injury and completed training normally, ready for action.

[Mbappe / France National Football Team Captain: We still have a lot more to prove if we want to be considered an invincible team or deserve the highest praise.]

With Dembele also having scored 5 goals, France has become the first team since the 2002 champion Brazil to have two players score 5 or more goals. Boasting a powerful offense that averages 2.67 goals per game, France is determined to turn the semifinal match, held on France's Bastille Day, into a celebration.

[Didier Deschamps / France National Football Team Head Coach: I didn't know it was our first time playing on Bastille Day. We will give everything we have to make it a very special day. It will be a spectacular match that you won't be able to take your eyes off of.]

A sports statistics firm predicted a tight contest, giving France a 56.7% chance of reaching the final for the third consecutive time, while placing the winning probability for Spain, which is currently on a 36-match unbeaten streak, at 43.3%.

(Video Editing: So Ji-hye, Video Source: FIFA)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.