Yamal fit to start on bench for Spain against Cape Verde

Spain's young winger Lamine Yamal is fit and available to come off the bench for his team's opening World Cup match against Cape Verde, manager Luis de la Fuente announced Sunday. However, Yamal's debut will depend on the flow of the Group H game.

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The good news is that Lamine is very fit. He's following the set process, and he's in good shape, he's training very well, just like his other colleagues who had some sort of injury. They're all available, and they won't be able to play from the start of the match.

Yamal has been sidelined since April with groin and hamstring injuries, missing Spain's recent friendly matches. Despite his absence, De la Fuente expressed confidence in his fitness. "The good news is that Lamine is very fit," he told reporters. "He's following the set process, and he's in good shape, he's training very well, just like his other colleagues who had some sort of injury. They're all available, and they won't be able to play from the start of the match."

De la Fuente indicated that the decision to field Yamal, along with Nico Williams and Victor Munoz who also return from injury, will be strategic. "We'll have to wait and see how the game progresses, and then we'll make a decision on how they can contribute to the team. It's a matter of logic, of how the game is evolving, the game situation."

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We'll have to wait and see how the game progresses, and then we'll make a decision on how they can contribute to the team. It's a matter of logic, of how the game is evolving, the game situation.

Spain, the 2010 World Cup champions and recent European champions, are among the tournament favorites. Nevertheless, De la Fuente stressed the importance of not underestimating Cape Verde, who are making their World Cup debut. "If you haven't watched them play yet, you'll see tomorrow," he said. "Tactically they are a very well-structured team and they develop those tactical concepts very well. Their players are very powerful from a physical point of view. They're very fast and they knocked out Cameroon. They might be one of the teams springing a surprise in this World Cup and the match tomorrow will require us to perform to our best and it will be a struggle for sure, even if we win."

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If you haven't watched them play yet, you'll see tomorrow. Tactically they are a very well-structured team and they develop those tactical concepts very well. Their players are very powerful from a physical point of view. They're very fast and they knocked out Cameroon. They might be one of the teams springing a surprise in this World Cup and the match tomorrow will require us to perform to our best and it will be a struggle for sure, even if we win.