Spain coach Luis de la Fuente expressed his enthusiasm for the pressure that comes with being one of the favourites to win the World Cup, speaking on the eve of Spain’s friendly match against Egypt in Barcelona on Tuesday. He highlighted the challenge positively, comparing Spain’s status to other top teams such as France, England, and Brazil.
De la Fuente also commended local talent Lamine Yamal, describing the young Barcelona star as being in a remarkable phase of his career. He praised Yamal’s speed, resilience, and moments of brilliance, though he refrained from confirming whether Yamal would start in the upcoming game against Egypt, who are also World Cup participants.
“He’s in a very sweet moment — fast, resilient, producing flashes of brilliance,” De la Fuente said. “I understand that Barca fans worry about him. My responsibility is to put out the best possible lineup, the best possible team.” He added that Yamal has improved significantly over the past two years and is expected to continue developing, noting that his contribution to the team grows daily and that he possesses a unique magic on the field.
Spain, currently ranked number one by FIFA, recently secured a 3–0 victory over Serbia in the first of two friendlies scheduled during this March international window. Their next friendly will take place in Puebla, Mexico, against Peru on June 8, ahead of their World Cup opener against Cape Verde on June 15 in Atlanta, United States.
In a significant development, De la Fuente addressed injury concerns affecting key players from their Euro 2024 championship-winning squad. Nico Williams, Fabian Ruiz, and Mikel Merino are sidelined due to injuries. While Nico Williams has reportedly resumed training, Merino faces a longer recovery period with an unpredictable prognosis. De la Fuente remains cautiously optimistic about their return but acknowledged the setbacks the team has encountered.
