Spain boss De la Fuente hails Barcelona star after win over Portugal | OneFootball

Spanish national team head coach Luis de la Fuente has moved to heap praise on Barcelona star Lamine Yamal early this week.

This comes owing to the performance produced by the youngster in Spain’s World Cup showdown with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal.

La Roja are of course fresh off advancing to the quarter-finals of international football’s headline tournament late on Monday night.

After a hard-fought 90 minutes, a solitary Mikel Merino goal proved enough to guide the reigning European champions to victory over Portugal.

The aforementioned Lamine featured from the off in the matchup, from his berth on the right wing. He was pitted directly against one of world football’s finest in the form of Nuno Mendes, and actually struggled to make an impact throughout lengthy stretches.

As much culminated in many aiming heavy criticism at Barcelona’s prodigious young wide-man.

Quick to jump to the defence of his star man in the game’s aftermath, though, was manager Luis de la Fuente. Drawn on Lamine’s latest performance by the media, Spain’s headmaster assured:

“Lamine Yamal? He played one of the biggest matches of his career. I am so happy with him. Nuno Mendes’ injury was probably caused by the demands Lamine placed on him throughout the game.”

Conor Laird – GSFN