Van der Vaart criticizes Lamine Yamal’s appearance in Spain national team

Former Netherlands midfielder Rafael van der Vaart has criticized young Spanish player Lamine Yamal for his demeanor during the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals.

“I see things that are starting to bother me a bit. His shorts are too low, he doesn’t seem to be trying too hard, and his movements appear somewhat shallow,” Van der Vaart remarked.

“That’s when I think—if you’re that young, you should cherish every minute you get to play for Spain. No matter how talented you are, at that age, you have to prove yourself in every moment and in every match,” he added.

The 16-year-old responded to the criticism by scoring a goal in the second leg at Mestalla Stadium — however, he missed a crucial penalty when the match was decided through a shootout after the aggregate score remained tied at 5-5.