Spanish right-winger Lamine Yamal is physically fit, but will start his team’s World Cup debut on the bench, coach Luis de la Fuente said on Sunday (14).
Yamal, 18, a Barcelona player, has not played since April due to a thigh injury and groin discomfort. He was left out of Spain’s recent friendlies.
His participation will depend on the progress of the Group H match against Cape Verde, said the coach. The situation is similar to that of left winger Nico Williams and striker Victor Muñoz. Spain takes the field against Cape Verde, at 1pm. The match will be broadcast on CazéTV.
“The good news is that Lamine is in great physical shape,” De la Fuente told reporters. “He is following the established process and is in good shape, training very well, as are his other colleagues who had some type of injury. Everyone is available, but will not be able to play from the start of the match,” he said.
According to the coach, Yamal’s entry will depend on the situation of the match. “We will have to wait and see how the game plays out and then we will make a decision on how they can contribute to the team.”
Spain, European champion and winner of the 2010 World Cup, arrives at the tournament as one of the big favorites for the title, but De la Fuente says not to underestimate Cape Verde in its debut at the World Cup. “If you haven’t seen them play yet, you will,” he said.
“Tactically, it is a very well-structured team and develops these tactical concepts very well. Its players are very powerful from a physical point of view. They are very fast and eliminated Cameroon,” he said.
“They could be one of the teams that will cause a surprise in this World Cup. The match will require us to play at our best level and it will certainly be a battle, even if we win. The public, everyone will discover what they are capable of.”
Saudi Arabia and Uruguay are the other teams in the group. They will face each other in Miami this Monday (15th), at 7pm, in a match broadcast by Globo (Globoplay), SBT, SporTV, CazéTV, and NSports.
