France star Warren Zaire-Emery has rejected the trash talk by former Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who implied none of the team are French because so many are of colour.
He said: ‘The French team has players from different backgrounds and origins, as does the country. We are a united group, a united team, and that’s all that matters.’
The comments by Mariano Rajoy, a week after a Paraguayan senator launched a nakedly racist attack on Kylian Mbappe, have provoked outrage in France.
In an opinion piece published by the newspaper El Debate, Rajoy said: ‘They have a top-level squad. That said, they don’t have any French players.’
France also dismissed claims by Lamine Yamal that they were ‘scared’ of Spain, with midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery insisting such talk was ‘not very useful’ and being ignored.
Zaire-Emery, who was repeatedly asked about Yamal’s comments at his pre-match press conference ahead of the World Cup semi-final against Spain, said: ‘We are not afraid of anybody.
France star Warren Zaire-Emery has hit back at a racist attack from the former Spanish Prime Minister
Former Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy expressed his controversial view in an opinion piece published by the newspaper El Debate
‘These type of declarations will take place but personally I don’t think this is very useful. The match is taking place tomorrow, not on social media.
Yamal based his bold assertion on the fact that France have lost their last two games against the Spanish, in the 2024 Euros and Nations League semi-finals, but Zaire-Emery took the moral high ground by praising the 19-year-old’s skills.
Zaire-Emery, 20, said he was not annoyed by such provocative comments from Yamal and winger Nico Williams. ‘Things like this happen. I’ve had the same at Barcelona,’ he said.
‘But you have to do everything on the pitch. We try not to take into account the declarations. Let’s not focus too much on what’s being said.’
French manager Didier Deschamps attempted to put pressure on his opposite number Luis de la Fuente by saying that Spain were favourites for the semi-final.
‘Spain confirmed that they are the favourites,’ he said, in a classic pre-match psychological ploy. ‘I don’t want to put pressure on Luis but I know people expect a lot of their team.
Lamine Yamal claimed that France are ‘scared’ of Spain after winning their last two meetings
‘We know that this match might be a spectacular one between two teams with plenty of quality offensively. It’s not the revenge for us. The past is in the past.’
France play Spain on Bastille Day and Deschamps said that can inspire them. ‘July the 14th is an important day for France and the French nation,’ he said. ‘We will do everything that we can. We know our objective.’
