Cubarsi defies Mbappé ahead of France-Spain World Cup semi-final: "No fear"

Pau Cubarsi has no intention of being intimidated. On the eve of the World Cup semi-final between France and Spain, the 19-year-old Barcelona defender displayed calm confidence at the prospect of marking Kylian Mbappé: “Mbappé? I’m not afraid, no fear at all.”

The tone is measured, but Cubarsi does not downplay his opponent. When questioned by newspaper AS, he readily acknowledges the qualities of the France captain: “Everyone knows his qualities. Even if he’s not involved in the match, he can change things with a quick action.” The Catalan defender places him in a category of his own: “He is unique, like Lamine Yamal. You have to stay alert for 90 minutes.”

This confidence is not unfounded. In the six club encounters between the two players — Barcelona against Real Madrid — Cubarsi comes out on top five times against just one victory for Mbappé. A record that favours the defender, even though the French striker has still scored five goals in these six direct duels.

Spain approaches this semi-final with one of the tournament’s most solid defences: La Roja has conceded just one goal since the competition kicked off. Facing them, France rely on an attack led in large part by Mbappé, whose ability to emerge outside the main moments of a match is precisely the warning that Cubarsi himself wanted to make.

The match takes place on Tuesday evening, with a place in the final on July 19 at stake.