Injured Spain Trio Yamal, Williams and Munoz Stay Behind for Rehab Ahead of World Cup Opener
Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams and Victor Munoz stayed in Chattanooga for rehabilitation while the rest of the squad traveled to Puebla for a warm-up against Peru. Coach Luis de la Fuente said the three remain within expected recovery timelines ahead of the match against Cape Verde.
Al JazeeraSpain coach Luis de la Fuente said Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams and Victor Munoz remain on schedule to be available for the team’s World Cup opening match against Cape Verde on June 15. Yamal, 18, has been managing groin issues after a hamstring injury in April. Williams and Munoz have also been recovering from injuries.
The three players stayed at Spain’s training base in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on Sunday instead of traveling with the squad for Monday’s final warm-up match against Peru in Puebla. “If there are no setbacks in the coming days, we expect them to be available on the 15th,” De la Fuente told reporters. ” De la Fuente added that the players are within expected timelines to arrive in good condition.
“The most important thing is that those timelines are being met and will continue to be met, so they can be with us and available to be selected at some point in the match,” he said. Spain will face Peru in Puebla before traveling to Atlanta for the World Cup opener. De la Fuente said the team is treating the Peru match as more than a preparation game.
“For us, this is a very important match,” he said. ” The Spaniards enter the tournament as leading contenders after winning Euro 2024. Forward Yeremy Pino said the squad is embracing the expectations.
“The favourites tag is normal,” Pino said. “We’ve had some very good years, and we carry that with a lot of pride. Pressure should not make us play worse.
