Spain Plans Lamine Yamal's World Cup Return, Starting with Limited Minutes Against Cape Verde
Spain's manager Luis de la Fuente has decided to bring Lamine Yamal into the World Cup opener against Cape Verde on Monday, giving him 15-20 minutes off the bench rather than starting him. Yamal has been sidelined since April with an injury and has not played competitive football in months, though he has been recovering ahead of schedule in Spain's squad camp. The decision balances Spain's World Cup ambitions against Barcelona's concerns about risking further injury to their star player before next season.
According to SPORT, Spain's national team manager Luis de la Fuente has decided that Lamine Yamal will make his World Cup debut in Spain's opening match against Cape Verde on Monday, June 17, but will be introduced as a substitute with 15-20 minutes of playing time rather than starting. Yamal has been out of competitive action since April when he suffered an injury during Barcelona's match against Celta Vigo. De la Fuente previously stated that Yamal is recovering ahead of schedule and meeting his rehabilitation objectives, though the manager indicated the decision on when to play him would depend on ongoing assessment. The plan involves gradually increasing Yamal's minutes in subsequent matches against Saudi Arabia on June 21, with the possibility of him starting in the more challenging Group H match against Uruguay on June 26. Barcelona has expressed concern about the accelerated timeline, given the injury's nature and the risk of relapse, particularly as the club aims to maintain its competitive form heading into the 2026-2027 season.
What's missing
The specific nature and severity of Yamal's injury are not detailed in the article, which would provide important context for assessing the medical risk of his return.
What different sources said
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Spain Makes Decision On FC Barcelona Star Lamine Yamal at World Cup
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