Barcelona and Spain winger Lamine Yamal has identified German left-back David Raum as the toughest opponent he has faced in his fledgling career. The 17-year-old, who has already made a significant impact in the football world, highlighted Raum’s strength and tenacity during their encounter in the Euro 2024 quarter-final.
Yamal’s praise for Raum is a testament to the German defender’s abilities, despite being substituted before the hour mark in the quarter-final clash. The Spanish winger, who won the 2024 Golden Boy award, managed to get the better of Raum on that occasion, providing an assist for the opening goal in Spain’s 2-1 extra-time victory.
In an interview with Tuttosport, Yamal described Raum as “a tough, fierce defender.” He added: “At the European Championship in the quarter-finals against the Germans, he proved to be a tough opponent to overcome.” Yamal’s comments demonstrate the high level of respect he has for Raum’s defensive prowess.
The Euro 2024 quarter-final match between Spain and Germany was marked by controversy, with Germany denied a penalty for Marc Cucurella’s handball – a decision later admitted to be incorrect by UEFA’s Referees’ Committee. Despite the controversy, Yamal went on to play a crucial role in Spain’s campaign, scoring in the semi-final win against France and assisting Nico Williams for the opener in the 2-1 final win against England.
As Yamal continues to recover from an ankle injury sustained against Leganes, he will be eager to return to Hansi Flick’s team and aid their bid to win La Liga and the Champions League. With his impressive skills and maturity, Yamal is likely to play a key role in Barcelona’s success in the coming months.
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