A repeated encounter

Spain is preparing for a historic clash in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The opponent will be Austria, a team that has faced La Roja only once in this tournament, back in Argentina 1978, on the first day of Group 3, and the victory went to the Austrians by 2-1. Almost half a century later, the duel is repeated in a very different context, with Spain established as a power and Austria looking to make an impact.

Situation of the casualties

The pre-match build-up is marked by the medical news that shook the Spanish camp. The official report confirmed the injuries of Nico Williams and Yeremi Pino after the match against Uruguay. In the case of Pino, it is an "acromioclavicular sprain," without fracture, although with an uncertain recovery time that will depend on his progress. Williams, for his part, suffered a muscle injury in the right adductor. The medical report detailed that it is a minor grade injury, which opens up the possibility of him rejoining later in the tournament. Both will remain on the roster, but their participation will depend on how far the team advances.

Possible lineup

Possible lineup for Spain (4-3-3): Unai Simón; Marcos Llorente, Pau Cubarsí, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cucurella; Pedri, Rodri, Mikel Merino; Lamine Yamal, Mikel Oyarzabal, and Álex Baena.

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