Lamine Yamal Fit for World Cup Opener, Spain Coach Confirms

Kathmandu. Spain's winger Lamine Yamal is fully fit for his first World Cup match. However, he will not be in the starting eleven for the Group 'H' match against Cape Verde.

Spain's head coach Luis de la Fuente said that the 18-year-old Yamal is ready to come on as a substitute, but his entry will depend on the game's pace and situation.

Yamal, who has been out of action since April due to injury, had been suffering from hip and hamstring problems. Due to the injury, he had also missed Spain's recent friendly matches. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, coach De la Fuente clarified that there are no longer any concerns about Yamal's injury. He also informed that the condition of other injured players, Nico Williams and Victor Munoz, is similar to Yamal's.

Speaking about the return of the injured players, coach De la Fuente said, 'The good news is that Lamine is fully fit. He is following the prescribed process and is in good rhythm. Like his other injured teammates, he has been practicing very well. They are all available for the match, but they will not be able to play from the start of the game. We will have to see how the game progresses and then decide how they can contribute to the team. This is something that will depend on the development of the game and the logic of the situation.'

Spain, the 2010 World Cup winner and current European champion, is once again entering the field as a strong contender for the title. However, coach De la Fuente said that Cape Verde, playing in the World Cup for the first time, cannot be taken lightly.

Praising the African team Cape Verde, he said, 'If you haven't seen them play so far, you will see tomorrow. Strategically, they are a very well-structured team and implement strategies well on the field. Physically, their players are very strong and fast; they beat Cameroon to qualify for the World Cup. They can be a team that produces surprising results in this World Cup, and we will have to give our best performance in tomorrow's match. Even if we win, the match will surely be a tough one, and tomorrow the world will know their capabilities.'

Saudi Arabia and Uruguay are also included in this Group 'H', which includes Spain and Cape Verde.