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

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.

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:

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.