Yamal says full match would come too soon for Spain
The Barcelona winger is easing back from a hamstring injury as Spain prepares to face Saudi Arabia after a goalless World Cup opener.
By Daniel Okafor · Business Editor
2 min read
Lamine Yamal says he is not ready to play a full match for Spain as he works back from a hamstring injury. His fitness is a key question for the European champions after they opened Group H with a 0-0 draw against Cape Verde, according to AFP.
The 18-year-old Barcelona winger told Spanish public broadcaster RTVE on Friday that playing 90 minutes would be premature. Asked about his readiness for a complete match, Yamal said it was “very early” and “unnecessary,” adding that he could play whatever minutes coach Luis de la Fuente wanted.
Spain face Saudi Arabia on Sunday in Atlanta, where De la Fuente’s side will try to record its first win of the tournament. AFP reported that Spain entered the World Cup as pre-tournament title favourites, but their first match brought an unexpected draw against debutants Cape Verde.
Managed return from injury
Yamal made his first appearance since mid-April on Monday, AFP reported, when he came on in the 71st minute against Cape Verde. The match was his return after a hamstring problem had kept him out before the World Cup.
De la Fuente told Radio Cope on Thursday that Yamal would be able to play “an hour” this weekend in Atlanta. That assessment points to a gradual return rather than an immediate full workload for one of Spain’s most closely watched players.
Yamal was unable to change the result after entering against Cape Verde, who held Spain scoreless through the final stages. AFP described Cape Verde as dogged in defense as Spain failed to break through in its Group H opener.
Teammates back Yamal
Barcelona teammate Pau Cabarsi said Friday that Spain understand what Yamal can bring. “We already know Lamine’s qualities,” Cabarsi said, according to AFP.
Cabarsi also said Yamal would help the team whether he starts or comes off the bench, while adding that the player chosen in his place would also be capable of performing well. His comments underlined Spain’s attempt to manage Yamal’s recovery without making the team dependent on a rushed return.
Spain’s broader World Cup record adds pressure to the group stage. AFP reported that the national team has not advanced beyond the last 16 at a World Cup since winning the tournament for the first time in 2010.
The Saudi Arabia match now offers Spain a chance to reset after a flat start. For Yamal, it is also another step in building match fitness while Spain weighs short-term needs against the risk of asking too much too soon.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.