Vietnam U23 player Van Truong: 'Yamal is the inspiration that helps Spain beat Belgium'

According to U23 Vietnam duo Nguyen Van Truong and Nguyen Duc Anh, the combination of Spain's tactical discipline and the brilliance of wonderkid Lamine Yamal will be the crucial factor in overcoming Belgium's "Red Devils" and advancing to the semifinals.

The blockbuster quarterfinal match of the 2026 World Cup between Spain and Belgium is considered a heavyweight challenge on the path to the coveted Golden Cup for both European football powerhouses. For Lamine Yamal personally, this is the perfect stage for the prodigy to further assert his value and supreme influence within La Roja's tactical setup.

From the perspective of a playmaking midfielder, Nguyen Van Truong places full confidence in the balance across all three lines of the Spanish team: "After Portugal's exit, I have high expectations for Spain's rise. They possess a squad with excellent depth, operating a direct, clear style of play that is somewhat more pragmatic than before.

Their defensive system features young players with excellent footwork and spatial awareness. In particular, goalkeeper Unai Simón plays a huge role with his ability to hold the ball, regulate tempo, and effectively relieve pressing pressure for the defenders ahead.

Even a star performing brilliantly in the Premier League like David Raya has to accept a backup role to Simón, which speaks volumes about this stability.

In midfield, the dynamic duo of Rodri and Pedri are displaying world-class quality in ball progression, tempo control, and long-range interceptions. The only concern perhaps lies in finishing, as Dani Olmo or Mikel Oyarzabal sometimes waste chances.

Nevertheless, with Lamine Yamal as the explosive catalyst in the attack, I believe Spain will win 2-0. It's likely that Yamal will provide a decisive assist for Rodri or a forward-running defender to score from a set piece."

Sharing the same view as his teammate, center-back Nguyen Duc Anh also predicts a victory, albeit a very hard-fought one for the Spanish team: "Both Spain and Belgium are very familiar with each other, from the national team level to domestic competitions.

This mutual understanding will turn the quarterfinal into a tense tactical battle, where Belgium could well play an aggressive opening to spring a surprise. However, Spain's composure always knows how to make its mark at the right moment.

Lamine Yamal is the biggest spark, possessing a unique ability to break deadlocks. Once Yamal scores or assists to give Spain the lead, they will completely control the game and impose their strategy."  The high-stakes clash between Spain and Belgium will take place at 2:00 AM on July 11. The winner of this match will advance to the semifinals to face the winner of the match between France and Morocco.