Star young duo set to feature in Spain opener
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente expects Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams to be involved when La Roja open their World Cup campaign against Cape Verde next week, barring any setbacks.
Yamal suffered a season-ending hamstring injury in April, causing him to miss the final six matches of Barcelona's LaLiga-winning campaign and be doubtful for Spain's Group H opener.
Williams, meanwhile, sustained a muscle issue in early May and sat out Athletic Club's final three league games.
Yamal and Williams – as well as Osasuna forward Victor Munoz – have remained at Spain's training base in Tennessee rather than travelling to Mexico for the friendly versus Peru, which comes after a 1-1 draw with Iraq on Friday.
With just seven days to go until the European champion begins its push for a second World Cup triumph, De la Fuente is optimistic regarding its chances of being involved.
"If there are no setbacks in the coming days, we expect them to be available on the 15th," he said. "I think all three will be in a position to play.
"The most important thing is that those timelines are being met and will continue to be met, so they can be with us and be available to be selected at some point in the match.
"I have in my head how to start the World Cup if there are no adverse circumstances. Football can always surprise you, but I won't tell you our lineup."
Footage shared on social media showed Gavi catching Rodri with a late challenge during a training session, with the Manchester City star going down awkwardly after his ankle was trodden on.
Gavi was criticised over the incident, but De la Fuente says there is no issue between the pair and that the Barcelona midfielder's feisty approach is one of his best attributes.
"This is football, it's training. The players give everything and no one has to apologise. Everything is perfect," he insisted.
"Gavi has energy, impetus, and that is one of his virtues. He has to ration the energy, but I want this Gavi in my team, without any doubt."
Spain is hoping to become only the fourth nation to simultaneously hold both the European Championship and World Cup crowns, after West Germany (Euro 1972, World Cup 1974), France (World Cup 1998, Euro 2000), and La Roja themselves (Euro 2008, World Cup 2010, Euro 2012).
However, Spain's 2010 triumph is the only time it has gone further than the quarter-finals in its last 14 participations at the World Cup, while it has only won one of its last six matches at the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.
