Spain don confirm say Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams go dey available for di World Cup opener against Cape Verde, but dem no go start di match. Di two attacking stars bin get injuries before di tournament wey go take place for North America dis summer.
Yamal, di teenage superstar wey bin undergo surgery for groin problem last November, miss di last month of di season for Barcelona because of hamstring tear. Williams, wey play for Athletic Club, no don play since May 10 after hin own hamstring problem wey dem call minor.
Neida Yamal nor Williams play for di World Cup warm-up friendlies against Iraq and Peru, but dem don return to training last week and dem declare dem fit for Spain Group H campaign. Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente talk on di eve of di meeting with Cape Verde for Atlanta say di two players dey contention. Hin even describe Yamal condition as perfect as hin dey seek to make hin World Cup debut and match hin Euro 2024 heroics.
However, De La Fuente insist say neida of dem go start, and di same go apply to Victor Munoz, di Osasuna winger wey don recover from calf issue wey hin get for club duty last month. Spain dey miss Fermin Lopez, di Barcelona attacking midfielder wey dem rule out for di entire tournament because of broken bone for hin right foot wey hin get against Real Betis for May. Hin undergo surgery and dem expect am to sideline for about three months.
Though Yamal and Williams be certain starters for dia country when dem fit, dia place for bench against Cape Verde give chance for odas to step up and make impression before Group H meetings with Saudi Arabia and Uruguay. De La Fuente pick wetin appear to be hin opening World Cup XI for last week final warm-up friendly against Peru for Mexico, with Ferran Torres and Alex Baena join Mikel Oyarzabal for attack, as Munoz still sideline.
Fabian Ruiz, Rodri and Pedri be di midfield trio, with Marc Cucurella wey don agree post-World Cup transfer from Chelsea to Real Madrid, and Marcos Llorente for full-back, plus central defenders Pau Cubarsi and Aymeric Laporte. Unai Simon dey expect to retain hin place for goal despite pressure from Arsenal star David Raya and Barcelona Joan Garcia.
As always, Spain strength in depth dey envy many nations, and De La Fuente get plenty oda options all over di pitch if hin choose to switch things up, including Gavi, Dani Olmo, Pedro Porro, Martin Zubimendi and di fit-again Mikel Merino.
