ATLANTA (AP) — Lamine Yamal is in ‘ideal condition’ to play in Spanish league games world cup Coach Luis de la Fuente said during Monday’s opening game against Cape Verde.
Yamal is not expected to start the game in Atlanta, but the 18-year-old superstar has been cleared to play in his return from a hamstring injury. miss the last few weeks of the season For Barcelona.
“We are following the instructions of the medical staff of Barcelona, his club and the Spanish national team, including his fitness coach, and we can say that Lamine Yamal will be ready to play tomorrow,” de la Fuente told a press conference. “I don’t know to what extent. The development of the game, the situation of the game will give us a hint as to when he will jump on the pitch, but he is in ideal condition to play tomorrow.”
Despite only turning 17 on the eve of the final, Yamal helped Spain win the 2024 European Championship and established himself as perhaps Europe’s brightest up-and-coming talent.
He is widely regarded as the player most likely to replace Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as football’s biggest star.
His popularity in the United States was evident from the start of the World Cup.
An advertisement depicting his portrait towers over the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where the Spanish national team will play their opening game.
On Sunday, fans gathered outside Kennesaw State University, where Spain’s national team practices, and several children imitated his trademark blonde curls.
Fans hoping to catch a glimpse of him on Monday may not be disappointed.
“Lamine Yamal is ready to play a few minutes and our medical team also agrees with the decision, otherwise he would not even be on the bench,” Delafuente said.
The last time Spain won the World Cup was in 2010, when they entered the tournament as European champions, just as they do now.
Along with France, they are favorites to win.
“This is just recognition for everything we’ve done to get to this point,” de la Fuente said. “We are humble. We know how difficult it is to win any game and to win the World Cup.”
Cape Verde is participating in its first World Cup and is the third smallest country in history to qualify. They are not expected to pull off a historic upset against Spain.
But de la Fuente said there was no danger of his players underestimating their opponents.
“They could be one of the surprise teams in this World Cup,” he said.
Cape Verde coach Pedro Leighton Brito agreed.
“I believe it will be a competitive game on the field,” he said. “Our will is to play without fear. … When we talk about identity, we are talking about who we are as a people.”
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James Robson is https://x.com/James Saran Robson
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AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/fifa-world-cup
