Spain without teen phenom ahead of World Cup

Lamine Yamal will miss both of Spain’s pre-tournament warmups and arrive at the 2026 World Cup without a minute of competitive football since April.For a player who was 16 when he won the Euros with Spain and is now the most anticipated name at this summer’s tournament, the timing could hardly be worse.The hamstring the 18-year old wunderkind injured taking a penalty for Barcelona against Celta Vigo on April 22 has kept him out for six weeks and countingHe was not risked for Thursday’s friendly against Iraq and will not feature against Peru on June 9 either, leaving him just days to prove his fitness before Spain’s opener against Cabo Verde in Atlanta on June 15.The concern is not just if he plays in that first game.

It is whether a player of Yamal’s style can be anything close to himself after two months without a competitive minute.Fitness and sharpness are two different things, even if if he is passed as fit in time, there is a real question over whether he will be the Yamal that defenses have spent months preparing to stop.Without him on Thursday, Spain were held to a 1-1 draw by Iraq, a side appearing in their first World Cup since 1986.It was a single friendly and should not be over-read.But it was a glimpse of a Spain side that can move the ball without being able to do much with it and that is a problem that does not go away with a tactical tweak.Manager Luis de la Fuente remains hopeful, suggesting Yamal could feature in some capacity against Cabo Verde, with full fitness targeted for the second group game against Saudi Arabia on June 21.“If nothing changes, he could be ready to play on June 15,” De la Fuente said.

“It doesn’t mean that for sure he will play.Maybe a few minutes, maybe just practice so he can improve his condition for the second match.

We will have to evaluate.”De la Fuente has made clear how much weight he places on his young star’s shoulders.“He’s incredibly excited, incredibly eager, very young but very matur...