Analysis: How Spain are sorely missing Barcelona star Fermin Lopez at the World Cup | OneFootball

Spain may have topped Group H at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with seven out of nine possible points, but they are still searching for their soul.

There is a strange tension around Luis de la Fuente’s side after the group stage. On paper, there is little to complain about.

Spain finished top of Group H after beating Uruguay 1-0, scoring five goals and conceding none across three matches, while extending their unbeaten run to 34 games.

De la Fuente praised his team’s resilience after the Uruguay win, admitting they had been pushed “to the limit.”

However, beneath all that control, there is a slight tactical discomfort. Spain have not quite settled on the final midfield piece.

This is where Barcelona midfield star Fermin Lopez’s absence is beginning to feel larger than expected.

De la Fuente is still searching for the right blend

The clearest sign is the rotation. Spain have moved through different midfield solutions in their opening three matches: Fabian Ruiz in the first game, Dani Olmo in the second and Mikel Merino in the third.

De la Fuente has not figured out his best midfield. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

While this is not a cause for panic, it does suggest experimentation from a manager who is still not sure who completes the jigsaw.

De la Fuente appears to be looking for the right balance around the core of Rodri and Pedri, and based on the evidence so far, that player looks like Olmo.

However, considering the profile he is looking for, it could also very easily have been Fermin Lopez.

Spain need a player who can connect midfield with the box, someone who can arrive, press and provide an extra goalscoring option. This is exactly where Fermin thrives.

Before his injury, the Barcelona midfielder looked like one of Spain’s most interesting wildcards.

Unfortunately, he suffered a fifth metatarsal fracture in his right foot and had to undergo surgery, ruling him out of the marquee tournament.

Fermin is coming off an excellent club season, scoring 13 goals and providing 17 assists from the No. 10 position, and he seems to be the missing piece in this Spain team at the tournament.

What Fermin gives that Spain are lacking

Fabian offers control. Olmo offers imagination. Merino offers duel power, timing and box arrivals. All three are excellent players, but none quite reproduce Fermin’s explosiveness.

Spain are missing Fermin’s explosiveness. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)

The 23-year-old plays like a midfielder who thinks like a forward. He does not simply receive between the lines, he attacks them. He runs beyond the striker, crashes into the penalty area, presses with sharp angles and turns sterile possession into sudden movement.

In a Spain side that already has passers, technicians and controllers, that kind of profile matters. This is especially important in games like the one against Cape Verde, where Spain dominated the ball but struggled to create chances.

Against compact opponents, possession needs disruption. Someone has to break the line without waiting for the perfect pass.

Someone has to arrive late while defenders are watching the winger. Someone has to make the box feel crowded in Spain’s favour.

Fermin does all this very naturally. That is why his absence is not only a squad-depth issue. Without him, De la Fuente has to choose between different partial answers: Fabian’s rhythm, Olmo’s creativity and Merino’s physicality.

Fermin was the one who combined all three.

Spain can survive without him, but the edge is missing

Spain are still among the tournament favourites. A team that win their group without conceding do not need to apologise for anything.

Pedri is still the orchestrator. Rodri still plays traffic controller to perfection. Lamine still attracts defenders like a magnet whenever he touches the ball.

The structure remains strong. It is only the X-factor that is missing. De la Fuente’s rotations suggest he knows something is not fully fixed.

Spain have options, but that is not the same as certainty. La Roja are not broken without Fermin.

They are just less dangerous between the lines, less unpredictable around the box and slightly less Barcelona in the one way that matters most: the ability to turn control into explosion.