Road to North America: Spain Refines Strategy Ahead of World Cup
As the countdown to the FIFA World Cup begins, the European champions, Spain, are intensifying their preparations to ensure they hit the ground running in North America. The national team recently held a rigorous training session at their National Team Headquarters in Las Rozas, Madrid, as they prepare for a crucial friendly match against Iraq this Thursday.
This fixture serves as a vital tuning exercise before the squad travels to Galicia for their final home-soil encounter. The timing is critical, as the team looks to build cohesion and rhythm before their journey across the Atlantic.
Squad Finalized and Key Returns
On Wednesday evening, coach Luis de la Fuente finalized the 26-man World Cup squad. Notable inclusions include midfielders Fabián Ruiz and Martín Zubimendi, as well as goalkeeper David Raya, who arrives with high confidence after featuring in Saturday's UEFA Champions League final with Arsenal.
Spain, seeking to replicate their 2010 glory, is slated to begin its campaign in Group H. Their journey kicks off on June 15 against Cape Verde, followed by challenging encounters with Saudi Arabia and Uruguay.
Injury Concerns and the Yamal Watch
While the squad is largely robust, there are concerns regarding injuries. Lamine Yamal, along with Nico Williams and Víctor Muñoz, will miss Thursday's friendly against Iraq. The focus remains on Yamal, who is recovering from a torn left hamstring.
Coach Luis de la Fuente expressed cautious optimism regarding the young star's recovery. Speaking on the timeline, De la Fuente stated, "The plan is to stick to what we'd planned, and that schedule gave us confidence that he could be ready by June 15. There are still a few days to go, so we'll see how things actually pan out… if everything continues as it has so far, he could be ready to start on the 15th, but it doesn't guarantee he'll play for that reason."
With the opener just eleven days away, the Spanish camp remains hopeful that their key offensive threats will be fully fit to face Cape Verde, setting the stage for a promising run in the tournament.
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Spain fine-tune plans for World Cup with friendly against Iraq
cgtn.com
