Spain are expected to place their faith in teenage sensation Lamine Yamal as they seek to reignite their World Cup campaign following a disappointing goalless draw against tournament debutants Cape Verde.
The European champions entered the competition among the favourites but failed to find a breakthrough in their opening Group match, raising questions about their attacking sharpness and reigniting concerns over a World Cup record that has fallen well below expectations since their triumph in 2010.
Yamal, who recently returned from a hamstring injury that sidelined him for nearly two months, was introduced only in the final quarter of the contest. Despite his limited involvement, the Barcelona star immediately transformed Spain’s attacking threat.
The 18-year-old’s pace, creativity and ability to beat defenders injected urgency into Spain’s play and electrified the 68,000 spectators in Atlanta, many of whom had come specifically to watch one of football’s brightest talents.
“Lamine is undoubtedly a special player,” said Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino. “He has great ability to beat his man and disrupt the opposition’s defensive shape. Given his quality, he can influence any game at any moment.”
Spain’s lack of cutting edge was further exposed by the absence of fellow winger Nico Williams, who also made only a brief substitute appearance after an injury-hit season. Without the direct running of Yamal and Williams, La Roja struggled to penetrate Cape Verde’s disciplined defence.
The result continued a worrying trend for Spain at World Cups. Since lifting the trophy 16 years ago, they have won just three of their last 12 matches in the competition and have often seen possession fail to translate into goals.
Head coach Luis de la Fuente defended his cautious use of Yamal, insisting the winger’s minutes were carefully managed as he regains full fitness.
“Lamine showed exactly what he’s capable of the moment he stepped onto the pitch,” said De la Fuente. “He forced the opposition to change their approach, but that was the amount of playing time we felt was right for him.”
Despite the setback, Spain remain well placed to progress. Victory in either of their remaining group matches against Saudi Arabia or Uruguay should be enough to secure a place in the knockout rounds.
However, the opening match made one thing abundantly clear: Spain’s hopes of winning a second World Cup may depend heavily on Yamal’s fitness and influence.
With pressure mounting ahead of Sunday’s clash against Saudi Arabia in Atlanta, De la Fuente may have little choice but to unleash his teenage star from the start.
