Key Takeaways:
- Spain, currently FIFA’s top-ranked side, secured a 3–0 victory over Serbia on Friday in the first of two March friendlies
- Luis de la Fuente refused to confirm whether Lamine Yamal will start against Egypt but highlighted the youngster’s outstanding recent form
- Key players Nico Williams, Fabian Ruiz, and Mikel Merino are sidelined through injury, affecting Spain’s preparations for the World Cup
De la Fuente Embraces the Favourites Tag
Spain manager Luis de la Fuente expressed his enthusiasm for the pressure of being among the leading contenders to win the upcoming World Cup, speaking on the eve of Tuesday’s international friendly fixture with Egypt in Barcelona.
Spain have maintained their position at the summit of the FIFA rankings and demonstrated their pedigree with a commanding 3–0 triumph over Serbia last Friday in the first match of their scheduled friendlies during the March international window.
“I love it. We accept that challenge,” De la Fuente said regarding the expectations placed on his squad, aligning their ambitions with powerhouse nations such as France, England and Brazil.
Luis de la Fuente y el papel de 'favoritos' de la Selección Española en el Mundial✨
🗣️"Tenemos que tener una actuación casi perfecta"
💬"No escurro el bulto y además me gusta" pic.twitter.com/w7YIohV0Gg
— DAZN Fútbol (@DAZNFutbol) March 30, 2026
Lamine Yamal: Centre of Attention
De la Fuente reserved special praise for Barcelona’s local prodigy, Lamine Yamal, yet stopped short of confirming the starlet’s place in Tuesday’s starting line-up. Yamal’s recent exploits have not gone unnoticed, with the Spain boss describing him as possessing “magic” and being in “one of the best moments of his young career”.
“He’s in a very sweet moment – fast, resilient, producing flashes of brilliance,” the coach remarked. “I understand that Barca fans worry about him. My responsibility is to put out the best possible lineup, the best possible team.”
“He’s a better footballer than he was two years ago, but not as good as he’ll be in two years. His contribution grows every day. He draws attention, he has magic.”
Upcoming Fixtures and Squad Injuries
After meeting Egypt in Barcelona, Spain will conclude their friendly preparations with a match against Peru in Puebla, Mexico, on 8 June, before making their World Cup debut on 15 June against Cape Verde in Atlanta, United States.
Spain’s preparations, however, have been disrupted by a number of injuries to key players who were instrumental in their Euro 2024 championship campaign. Nico Williams, Fabian Ruiz and Mikel Merino have all been ruled out, with their recovery progress closely monitored ahead of the tournament.
“I’m not being pessimistic, but there will be setbacks. We’ve had Merino’s injury, Fabian’s and Nico’s,” De la Fuente noted. “I believe Nico has already returned to training. Mikel does have a longer-term injury. I think both will make it, but we’ll see how their recovery progresses, because Mikel’s injury is less predictable.”
