World Cup
Lamine Yamal ready for full 90 minutes vs Uruguay, says coach
Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal is reported to be at full fitness and capable of playing the entire 90 minutes in Spain’s upcoming World Cup clash with Uruguay, after coach Luis de la Fuente started him against Saudi Arabia where he featured only the first half. Helena Condis of El Partidazo de COPE said he is already at 100 %.
Yamal played just 45 minutes against Saudi Arabia, a decision that appeared linked to Spain’s comfortable lead and a desire to avoid risking the teenager.
Ahead of the Saudi game, Yamal himself admitted he was not yet ready for a full match, yet the recent update suggests he is now close to full readiness.
He is described as one of Spain’s most decisive players, offering width, imagination and a one‑on‑one threat that can break down deep defensive blocks, a quality that was missed after the Cape Verde game where La Roja lacked creators like Yamal or Nico Williams.
His potential to feature the full 90 minutes against Uruguay would give Luis de la Fuente the option to start him and keep him on if the match becomes tight, rather than limiting his impact to a shorter spell.
Barcelona will still seek careful management, emphasizing that while Yamal can play the full duration, his long‑term freshness must not be compromised by unnecessary minutes.
Last night’s glimpse of Yamal’s fitness leaves Spain hopeful, but the balance between utilisation and caution will be the key test for Luis de la Fuente moving forward.