De la Fuente praises Yamal for stellar performance in Portugal win

[p]Substitute [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/merino-mikel/QFt86bm1/"]Mikel Merino[/a] struck in ‌the 91st minute in Arlington to send [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/spain/bLyo6mco/"]Spain[/a] into ‌the last eight for the first time since they won their ‌only World Cup in 2010.[/p][p][b]"For me, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lamine-yamal/lAt3vEub/"]Lamine[/a] has played ‌one of the most important matches of his life," [/b]de la Fuente said. [b]"Beyond whether he was brilliant or not, for me it ‌has been one of the matches that will ⁠help him grow the ‌most."[/b][/p][image alt="Portugal-Spain matchup stats" id="72611599-9f5f-4b8c-9e33-3a30a724d414" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform" guid="c109588b-7bdf-4f9c-a7d2-4862156fdeca" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]Lamine arrived at the World Cup managing a troublesome hamstring injury ​and started Spain's campaign on the bench as they were held to a goalless draw by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/cape-verde/MocyWdm7/"]Cape ​Verde[/a].[/p][p]He returned to the starting lineup after that and scored once in a 4-0 win over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/saudi-arabia/biSY8ox4/"]Saudi Arabia[/a].[/p][p]Against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/portugal/WvJrjFVN/"]Portugal[/a], the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/barcelona/SKbpVP5K/"]⁠Barcelona[/a] forward had ​three attempts on goal, including two on target, helping Spain maintain the pressure before Merino's late winner.[/p][image alt="Lamine Yamal heat map against Portugal" id="9dc27be6-70dc-4781-97c6-3a7ba999ce52" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform / ZUMA Press Wire / Shutterstock Editorial" guid="2e8277e9-10ed-4ec9-929f-ff05959c4ee5" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]De la Fuente suggested that the physical toll of trying to stop Lamine may have ‌contributed to Portugal defender [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mendes-nuno/ne2xCTJj/"]Nuno Mendes[/a]' injury in the 56th minute, when he was forced off and replaced by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/semedo-nelson/EyHywivj/"]Nelson Semedo[/a].[/p][p][b]"Lamine did a spectacular job. He suffered for the team, he defended for the team. When he had the ball, he always created doubt and uncertainty for the opponent. He generated a lot of fear,"[/b] de la Fuente said.[/p][p][b]"We still need Lamine in this World Cup, to keep ‌growing and delivering these kinds of performances," [/b]he added.[/p][p]Spain next ​face the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/usa/fuitL4CF/"]United States[/a] or [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/belgium/GbB957na/"]Belgium[/a].[/p][p]Asked about a potential quarter-final opponent, de la Fuente said his focus remained on Spain's progress.[/p][p][b]"Any opponent you face at this stage will have done enough to deserve being there, and whoever comes next will be ⁠an even greater challenge ⁠than those we have ‌encountered up to now,"[/b] he said.[/p][infobox id="4ccc1b10-d68f-4c97-bcf4-5e613c17c2e3" /]