Lamine Yamal still finding rhythm as Spain protect their prodigy | OneFootball

Lamine Yamal has yet to dazzle at this World Cup, starting but underwhelming in Spain’s 1-0 win over Uruguay. According to L'Équipe, there is no great alarm around the 18-year-old.

Alex Beana struck on 42 minutes at a red-clad Estadio Akron in Guadalajara. On 54 minutes Juan Manuel Sanabria tackled Yamal from behind, the Barcelona winger took a knock to his left foot and the Uruguayan was cautioned. Pedri, one booking from a ban, was replaced on the hour, then Yamal went off on 76, with Nico Williams introduced.

Yamal sustained a muscle tear against Getafe on 22 April, the night of his 24th and final club goal of the season. He produced 18 assists in 45 Barcelona matches, then spent 51 days out, missing eight fixtures, including Spain’s warm-ups against Iraq in A Coruña and Peru in Puebla, Mexico, which ended 1-1 and 3-1 on 4 and 9 June.

He played the final 20 minutes of Spain’s opener against Cape Verde, a 0-0 draw on 15 June. He then started against Saudi Arabia on 21 June, scored in the 10th minute of a 4-0 win, and is steadily regaining sharpness.

De la Fuente has said Yamal is still growing, uniquely gifted and on an upward path, and that Spain must support his progression. Several headline names, among them Lionel Messi, Ousmane Dembélé, Kylian Mbappé, Cristiano Ronaldo and Erling Haaland, have already delivered, though all are older. Spain ended the group without conceding, matching Mexico.

Source: L'Équipe