Spain's focus for their next World Cup match against Saudi Arabia is on how many minutes Lamine Yamal can play, as the European champions look to bounce back from a frustrating 0-0 draw with Cape Verde.
Stung Spain Aim to Avoid Another Setback
Two days after the stalemate in Chattanooga, Spain coach Luis de la Fuente gave his players a day off to clear their heads. Lamine Yamal visited Nashville, Dani Olmo went to Hamilton Place mall, and Rodri strolled along the Tennessee river with his partner. Borja Iglesias, returning to the hotel before the 9pm curfew, was not recognised by security and was denied entry. "It was funny," Iglesias said. "It happens to me in Spain, so how could it not happen here? I didn't have the accreditation with me so I had to wait for someone to come and get me. Lamine laughed at me: 'I love it, they didn't let you in.'"
Spain cannot afford another such mishap on the pitch. Against Saudi Arabia in Atlanta, they must find a way to score. "I'm not sure it's fair to say that the forwards have to 'improve', but yes, we need goals," Iglesias said. "We had various chances and didn't score; other times you only get one chance and you do score. So, be calm. I have seen them train and there's no problem. They will go in next time, for sure."
De la Fuente Insists on Same Approach
Spain had 27 shots against Cape Verde but failed to score, with Ferran Torres hitting the bar and Vozinha, the 40-year-old Cape Verde goalkeeper, making several saves to earn man of the match. "There's nothing to reproach the team for," Rodri said. "We generated chances but couldn't put it away; the good thing is they created almost nothing."
De la Fuente acknowledged the first-game nerves may have played a part. "Maybe the fact that it was the first game conditioned things," he conceded. Mikel Merino had described a sense of "mourning" after the draw, a metaphor that underscored the disappointment. "The players are stung, and tomorrow will be different for sure," De la Fuente said.
Despite the result, De la Fuente expressed "zero doubts" and insisted Spain must "insist on the same idea." However, the first half against Cape Verde raised concerns: centre-forward Mikel Oyarzabal did not touch the ball in the opening 30 minutes, and Pedri, the playmaker, was too advanced, with the game played behind him. Width came primarily from the full-backs.
Lamine Yamal's Role Under Scrutiny
The absence of Lamine Yamal until the 71st minute has dominated discussion, with the 18-year-old seen as Spain's hope. De la Fuente had said Yamal was in "perfect" condition, but his late introduction and conversations with medical staff suggested otherwise. Nico Williams, also returning from injury, got only nine minutes. "The freshness of Lamine and Nico is what it is," De la Fuente said then.
Now, the key question is how many minutes Yamal can play against Saudi Arabia. De la Fuente indicated he might prefer the second half, where games are often decided, and mentioned possible minute totals of "55, 58, 63."
Team Morale Remains High
Despite the setback, Spain remain unbeaten in 32 games. "We would be in a better mood if we had won but today we have taken our run to 32 games unbeaten," De la Fuente said. The team has been motivated by criticism. "There's no feeling of pressure, no sense of emergency. Sometimes the criticism motivates you and this is a generation of players that is very competitive," he added.
Martín Zubimendi said the team had overcome their initial sadness. "We were sad those first 24 hours but we have turned it around now," he said. He defended Spain's ball circulation, saying, "I'm surprised because if this midfield has a characteristic quality it's not exactly that it slows the game down." He also defended Rodri from unexpected criticism. "It was not a brilliant game but nor was it really bad: there are things we can take from it," Zubimendi added. "We have to come up with improvements, especially that fluidity, that freshness in the final third which I think is going to be the key."
Aymeric Laporte echoed the sentiment: "We were annoyed, which is the way it should be. But it's also true that we are unbeaten in 32. We have the ambition and the confidence to look to the next game, think positively, and try to win, as we always do. To say: 'We're here.'"
