MADRID (AP) — Injured forwards Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams were included in Spain’s squad on Monday. world cup However, for the first time La Roja will not be traveling with Real Madrid players.
Yamal and williams He suffered a muscle injury at the end of the season. However, coach Luis de la Fuente expects them to be fit to start the football showcase event.
“We are not going to speed up any process. We are coordinating with the club,” De La Fuente said. “The information we have is that everyone is ready for the first or second leg. There’s always caution, but if there’s ever a time when players want to take a risk, it’s at the World Cup.”
Spain will open their Group H match against Cape Verde in Atlanta on June 15th. They will then face Saudi Arabia in Atlanta on June 21st and Uruguay in Guadalajara, Mexico on June 26th.
Defender Dean Huyssen was among the Madrid players vying for a spot in the Spain squad, but was left out.
“I don’t think about the club. They are national team players,” de la Fuente said. “The only thing I want is for them to be proud to represent the national team. I don’t look at it the way the fans might see it.”
Eight players are from Madrid’s rival Barcelona, the Spanish league champions for the second consecutive year. Meanwhile, Madrid failed to win a major title for the second consecutive season.
Madrid will have players from other countries competing at the World Cup, including France’s Kylian Mbappé, Brazil’s Vinicius Junior and England’s Jude Bellingham.
Barcelona Midfielder Fermin Lopezsuffered a fracture in his right leg this month, but as expected, he was ruled out of the Spain national team.
Midfielder Mikel Merino has returned to the team after making just one appearance for Arsenal since suffering a foot injury in January. Also included is Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Fabien Ruiz, despite his recent injury.
Spain’s preparations begin on Saturday. They will play warm-up games against Iraq on June 4th and Peru on June 9th.
Revived from round 16 Exclusion by Morocco at the 2022 World Cup Euro 2024 winner In Germany. La Roja too Won the Nations League in 2023 And it was The runner-up is Portugal In the 2025 edition.
Spain have not advanced beyond the last 16 at a World Cup since winning their only title in 2010.
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squad:
Goalkeeper: Unai Simon (Athletic Bilbao), David Raya (Arsenal), João Garcia (Barcelona)
Defenders: Marc Cucurella (Chelsea), Alejandro Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen), Marcos Llorente (Atlético Madrid), Pau Kvarsi (Barcelona), Aymeric Laporte (Athletic Bilbao), Pedro Polo (Tottenham), Eric Garcia (Barcelona), Marc Poubil (Atlético Madrid)
Midfielders: Rodri (Manchester City), Martin Zvimendi (Arsenal), Pedri (Barcelona), Mikel Merino (Arsenal), Fabian Ruiz (Paris Saint-Germain), Gabi (Barcelona), Alex Baena (Atletico Madrid)
Forwards: Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), Jeremi Pino (Crystal Palace), Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Victor Muñoz (Osasuna), Borja Iglesias (Celta Vigo), Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Dani Olmo (Barcelona), Ferran Torres (Barcelona)
___ AP Soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
