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Rodri, the captain of Spain, has advised rising star Lamine Yamal to manage his "anxiety" and eagerness to impress as La Roja gear up for a crucial World Cup semi-final clash against France. The Manchester City midfielder emphasised that while the Barcelona teenager remains a key figure in the squad, he must regain his composure to perform at his very best on the global stage.

As Spain prepare for their much-anticipated semi-final meeting with France, Rodri highlighted the importance of emotional control for the team’s brightest young talent. The 30-year-old midfielder observed that Yamal has been playing with a sense of urgency verging on anxiety, which at times has limited his natural creativity and rhythm on the flank.

"I think he needs to calm down a bit, that anxiety that sometimes he has to prove himself," Rodri said after Spain’s latest match. "He's a very important player for us because of what he brings both in attack and defence, and he’s a very intelligent person. It’s true that he’s 19 years old, and at times we need to help him stay calm during certain moments of the game."

Despite becoming the youngest European player to record ten wins in major international tournaments, Yamal has faced scrutiny over his lack of goals at this World Cup. The forward entered the competition still recovering from a minor injury and has struggled to replicate the dazzling form he regularly showcases for Barcelona in La Liga. His positioning has often left him distant from the opponent’s penalty area, affecting his goal-scoring opportunities.

Nevertheless, Yamal remains confident and unfazed by the criticism. Addressing questions about his goal tally, he responded defiantly: "If we win the World Cup, I think nobody will remember how many goals I scored or didn’t score. If we win, everyone will be happy, and that’s all that matters. I know that my movement attracts defenders and helps create space for teammates. Even if I don’t touch the ball in a move, if it helps the team, that’s a positive. Everyone seems to be obsessed with goals, but we won the European Championship with me scoring just one."

Rodri also praised the youngster’s growing maturity since Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph. He noted that the winger is no longer just a breakout sensation but an established part of the national team setup who continually seeks guidance and improvement from senior players.

"He showed great maturity during the Euros, and now that he’s two years older, what he does isn’t as surprising anymore. He’s a very mature young man who still has aspects of the game to learn, especially when it comes to reading situations, which is normal for his age. But we all know his level. I always tell him to keep playing even if he doesn’t get a foul call. He listens, he’s eager to learn, and above all, he sets a great example with his attitude," added the Manchester City star.

Looking ahead to the semi-final, Yamal brushed aside suggestions that Spain might be intimidated by France. Reflecting on Spain’s recent success against Les Bleus, he pointed out that La Roja have beaten Didier Deschamps’ side in their last two meetings, a statistic that gives them confidence heading into Tuesday’s match.

Rodri, however, warned that the game would be far more competitive than Spain’s 5-4 victory over France in last year’s Nations League. "We can’t let that Nations League game, where we went 5-1 up before it ended 5-4, affect our mindset now. This is the World Cup — it’s a completely different competition. I don’t think the match will be as open, and we won’t have as many chances. France will be much more compact and harder to break down, so it will likely unfold in a very different way," the Spanish captain concluded.