Spain winger Lamine Yamal says he will head into Tuesday's FIFA World Cup semi-final against France without any sense of fear, as the Barcelona sensation celebrated his 19th birthday on Monday.

Yamal had sparked debate after Spain's 2-1 quarter-final victory over Belgium when he was quoted as suggesting that France, rather than Spain, should be "afraid" given La Roja's recent record against Les Bleus.

Addressing the remarks during a media interaction on Monday, Yamal clarified the context behind his comments.

"I was asked if I was afraid of France, and I said no," Yamal explained. "We are European champions. It's simply football," the teenager explained.

The young forward also revealed how he celebrated his birthday, saying he treated himself to a chunky jewel-encrusted necklace, which he wore to the press conference. However, he admitted the greatest present would be helping Spain reach the World Cup final.

"I haven't received many gifts yet. The best gift would be a win on Tuesday and a trip to New York," he said.

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Although several attacking stars have dominated the scoring charts during the tournament, Yamal has found the net only once so far. Even so, he is eager to make his mark against France in one of the biggest matches of his career.

"I don't focus on goals, but it's always special to score in a match like this. I accept the challenge. That's why I came here," Yamal said, promising a "beautiful match for the spectators."

"It's the game everyone was waiting for," he added.

Despite the magnitude of the occasion, Yamal insisted he would approach the semi-final with the same composure he brings to every match.

"There are far more difficult situations in life than a football match, so I'm calm," he said. "I don't feel any extra pressure; I'll go out and play like always and give my all for the team." (AFP)