Luis de la Fuente downplays Lamine Yamal's absence

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·15 novembre 2025

Luis de la Fuente downplays Lamine Yamal's absence

Luis de la Fuente jokes about Lamine Yamal's absence

Luis de la Fuente downplays Lamine Yamal's absence

OneFootball Video

Spain heads to Georgia with a single objective: to finish the job and officially secure their ticket to the 2026 World Cup. With a three-point lead over Turkey, whom they will face on November 18, and boasting a highly favorable goal difference, La Roja knows that a win would all but guarantee their place at the World Cup. Yet, even in these favorable conditions, one shadow remains: the absence of Lamine Yamal. The young FC Barcelona prodigy, currently undergoing treatment for a groin injury, has sparked tension between his club and the Spanish federation, with Barça believing their player should be given more time to recover.

Luis de la Fuente, however, refuses to dwell on the controversy. The national coach preferred to play down the situation and refocus the discussion on the team's immediate goal.

"The good news is that we have him for the next 15 years!" he joked during the press conference, before calling for focus. "We need to think about the present and the future. Right now, it's about relying on our current players, winning, and virtually securing our qualification. That's our priority."

For de la Fuente, the collective dynamic takes precedence over individual talent, no matter how gifted. He stressed the need to maintain high standards and keep progressing:

"Everything can be improved and everyone will work to progress, but what we need to focus on is tomorrow's performance. We're on the right path and we must keep moving forward."

In a group they control but is still open, Spain moves forward with calm and determination. Without Yamal, but with one certainty: qualification must be earned on the pitch, not in pre-match debates.