Luis de la Fuente chose the eve of Spain’s World Cup quarter-final against Belgium to issue a pointed reminder: Lamine Yamal, the prodigy who lit up the European Championship two years ago, has yet to uncork his most devastating form at this tournament. Speaking in Los Angeles, the Spain coach acknowledged that the 18-year-old’s output — a single goal and no assists in five matches — has fallen short of the standards he set in club football, but insisted the best version of the attacker is still to come. “We know that the best version of him, the attacking Lamine, is something that we haven’t quite seen yet in this World Cup,” De la Fuente said, adding that Yamal’s recovery from a late-season hamstring injury had masked his true sharpness.

The numbers bear out the coach’s patience. Yamal has been a persistent threat down the right flank, drawing multiple defenders and, in the last-16 victory over Portugal, engaging in a duel so intense that opposing full-back Nuno Mendes was forced off injured in the 55th minute. De la Fuente later described that performance as “one of his best” and a milestone in the youngster’s development. Yet the broader Spanish campaign has been built not on individual brilliance but on collective defensive rigour: Unai Simón and his back line have yet to concede a goal, facing only six shots on target across five matches. That foundation has carried La Roja to the last eight while the attack, led by Mikel Oyarzabal’s four goals, has done just enough.

Belgium, by contrast, arrive in the quarter-finals on a wave of attacking momentum. After a sluggish group stage, Rudi Garcia’s side overturned a two-goal deficit to beat Senegal 3-2 and then dismantled the United States 4-1, a performance that showcased the enduring quality of the so-called Golden Generation. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, speaking to BeIN Sports, identified Yamal as the primary danger but cautioned against over-committing. “We must limit his space, keep him close, and create two-against-one situations when possible,” Courtois said. “But Spain have many quality players. If we focus only on Yamal, we open space for others.” The Real Madrid keeper also noted that Spain’s high defensive line could be exploited with balls into the space behind the full-backs.

The winner at SoFi Stadium will face France in the semi-finals, after Didier Deschamps’ side clinically dispatched Morocco 2-0 in Foxborough. For Belgium, the match represents perhaps the final chance for a generation that includes Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Courtois to claim a major international prize. Spanish media reports have framed the encounter as a test of whether De la Fuente’s possession-based system, reminiscent of the 2010 world champions, can finally unlock a knockout-stage opponent with the same authority it has shown in defence. Southeast Asian outlets, meanwhile, have highlighted the contrast between the pre-tournament hype around Yamal and the quiet efficiency of Spain’s back line.

De la Fuente, for his part, projected calm certainty. “He’s going to perform on the attacking front — that’s very clear,” the coach said of Yamal. “He’s got incredible potential. And, of course, this is yet to come in some respects.” The next chapter, and a date with France, now hinge on whether that potential can be realised against a Belgium side that has rediscovered its bite.