Lamine Yamal healthy enough to play full matches for Spain in World Cup knockouts: De La Fuente

Lamine Yamal is now healthy enough to play a full World Cup match for Spain if necessary, coach Luis De La Fuente said on Wednesday.

The 18-year-old Barcelona winger has scored just one goal while playing just 141 minutes in Spain’s three group games, making him perhaps the only global superstar who has not excelled in this star-dominated World Cup. Yamal’s minutes have been restricted by Spain to optimize his recovery from his hamstring tear on April 22.

Speaking to reporters at the SoFi Stadium before the start of the knockout tie, De La Fuente indicated that Yamal’s recovery is all but complete as La Roja prepares to face Austria in a round of 32 match on Thursday.

“Lamine can play whatever we ask him to play,” De La Fuente said through an interpreter. «We have been very careful with him, as in managing the recovery of all our players, respecting their timelines and following the evolution of the matches. Lamine is doing very well now and above all you can all see how much he wants to play.»

De La Fuente then grinned and added: «So we’ll see if he plays tomorrow.»

Yamal had 24 goals and 17 assists in all competitions for Barcelona, ​​despite missing the last six games of the La Liga season due to his hamstring injury. After coming on as a late substitute in Spain’s surprise goalless draw against Cape Verde to open this tournament, Yamal scored his first World Cup goal 10 minutes after his first start against Saudi Arabia, and then played 76 minutes against Uruguay.

Yamal has made it clear he is keen to showcase his talent alongside the other top players who are all enjoying spectacular World Cups, from Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé to Harry Kane, Erling Haaland and Vinícius Júnior.

Spain had more good injury news on Wednesday as they look to win their first World Cup knockout round win since 2010, when they won the title.

Yerémy Pino has made a «miraculous» recovery after apparently spraining his left shoulder during Spain’s victory over Uruguay, De La Fuente said. The Crystal Palace winger is available against Austria.

Winger Victor Muñoz is also available after the Liverpool signee missed the group stages with an unspecified muscle injury.

“Victor is in good shape, but he hasn’t competed for a long time,” De La Fuente said. “Depending on the match, we’ll see if I can get him involved or not.”

Nico Williams is not expected to play against Austria, but De La Fuente said the Athletic Bilbao winger’s groin injury has improved enough that he could be available if Spain reaches the round of 16.

Spain has lost its first knockout match in each of the past two World Cups, and failed to even make it out of group play in 2014. But the current group has plenty of reason to believe that a new era is dawning in this tournament – ​​if it can keep its best players on the field.

De La Fuente has led Spain to victories in the 2023 Nations League and 2024 European Championships, while losing just two of La Roja’s 45 matches during his tenure.

Spain has yet to concede a goal at this World Cup, recording three clean sheets in a row.

Published on July 2, 2026