The Spanish national team has received a major boost ahead of their decisive Nations League match against England. Head coach Luis de la Fuente has officially confirmed that 18-year-old Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal has fully recovered from knee issues and is ready to rejoin the team. The coach stated this at a press conference following the victory over the Czech Republic, citing information from football insider Fabrizio Romano published on X (Twitter).
Fifth consecutive win and record streak
On Thursday, November 12, de la Fuente's men defeated the Czech Republic away from home. Atletico Madrid representatives Alex Baena and Marc Pubill scored for the Spaniards. This victory marked the fifth in five Nations League Group A3 matches for the reigning world champions. Moreover, Spain extended their unbeaten streak to 43 games — the team last tasted defeat back in March 2024, when they lost to Colombia. This result highlights the Spanish national team's status as one of the most consistent in world football.
Yamal: From injury to return
Before the match against the Czech Republic, Lamine Yamal was unable to play due to knee pain. This marked his first absence for either Barcelona or the national team this season. Prior to this, the 18-year-old winger had started 20 consecutive matches, recording 17 goals and 13 assists — stats that make him one of the most productive young players in European football. After the win over the Czech Republic, de la Fuente reported: "There is good news. Lamine Yamal is feeling good now and is looking forward to joining the team on Friday."
Oyarzabal also back in action
In addition to Yamal, the Spanish head coach confirmed the return of Real Sociedad striker Mikel Oyarzabal, who had also been dealing with health issues. Thus, heading into the match against England, de la Fuente has a full squad available, significantly strengthening the team's position in the fight for top spot in the group.
Metropolitano match to decide group leader
The Spanish national team has already secured a spot in the Nations League quarterfinals. The same applies to England, who beat Croatia 2-1 in a parallel match at Wembley. The English currently trail the Spaniards by three points, making the showdown on Sunday, November 15, at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, a decisive one: the winner of the match will take first place in Group A3. Luis de la Fuente expects a high-stakes encounter and emphasized that his team is eager to continue their successful run and finish the group stage at the top of the table.
