Spain winger Lamine Yamal has fully recovered from injury and will be ready to come off the bench for the team's World Cup opener against Cape Verde in Group H. Head coach Luis de la Fuente said the decision on when to introduce the 18-year-old will depend on how the match unfolds.
“The good news is that Lamine is very fit,” De la Fuente told reporters on Sunday. “He is following the recovery protocol and is in good physical condition, as are other teammates who have had injuries.”
Yamal has not played since April due to groin and hamstring issues. He also missed Spain's recent friendlies, but the coach expressed no concerns about the player's fitness, adding that Nico Williams and Victor Munoz are in a similar situation.
“Everyone is ready, but they will not start from the beginning. We have to see how the match develops, then make a decision about how they can contribute to the team,” De la Fuente explained. “It's a question of logic, based on the flow of the game.”
Spain heavily favored
Spain, the European champions and 2010 World Cup winners, enter the tournament as one of the top contenders. However, De la Fuente is not underestimating Cape Verde, a nation making its World Cup debut.
“If you haven't seen them play, you will see tomorrow,” he said. “Tactically, they are a very well-organized team and execute their game plan very effectively. Their players are very strong physically, very fast, and they eliminated Cameroon.”
“They could be one of the surprise teams at this World Cup, and tomorrow's match will require us to give our all. It will certainly be a tough battle, even if we win. The fans and everyone else will discover tomorrow what they can do.”
The other two teams in Group H, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay, face each other in Miami on Monday.
