Spain’s head coach, Luis de la Fuente, has announced that Lamine Yamal is “in perfect condition,” yet he will begin on the bench during their World Cup opener against Cape Verde.
The winger from Barcelona has been working hard to regain his fitness following an injury sustained on April 22.
Despite missing Spain’s recent friendly match against Mexico, De la Fuente remains positive about Yamal’s readiness for the first game in Group H.
“The encouraging news is that Lamine is in perfect condition,” De la Fuente shared in a pre-match press conference in Atlanta on Sunday. “He’s arrived at this stage in the form we aimed for. He’s doing well, along with Nico [Williams] and Victor [Muñoz]. All three are available, although some may not play the entire match.”
Williams and Muñoz have also been dealing with injuries, but all three participated fully in training during Spain’s session at Kennesaw State University in Georgia on Sunday.
“The doctors have confirmed Lamine can play tomorrow without any issues,” De la Fuente added. “He may not play a full 90 minutes, but he can contribute… The situation with Williams is similar. They’ve been training together consistently, and they have a good rapport. If the game calls for it, they can both play.”
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De la Fuente emphasized that Spain’s left-back Marc Cucurella would not be affected by speculation about his impending transfer from Chelsea to Real Madrid.
According to ESPN, Madrid has reportedly reached an agreement for Cucurella worth up to €60 million, enhancing coach José Mourinho’s squad.
“If this news is positive for Cucu or anyone else, it’s something to celebrate,” De la Fuente commented. “I don’t discuss club matters, but if you ask me about Cucurella’s role in the national team, he is impressive… He has been with us since he was 17, and I know his quality and potential. He could easily be one of the best left-backs in the world.”
Spain will also compete against Saudi Arabia and Uruguay in Group H.