Injury update from Barcelona
Lamine Yamal's left hamstring injury sustained on April 22 during a Barcelona league match keeps him out of Thursday's warmup against Iraq in A Coruña, but Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said the 18-year-old is on track for the World Cup opener against Cape Verde on June 15 in Atlanta.
The forward said this week he was scared of missing the tournament and prayed he'd recover in time. The World Cup begins June 11 across North America.
The matchup already has enough history; the job is to keep the reading list shorter than the tension.
Roster situation
Two other injured players — Nico Williams and Víctor Muñoz — will also miss the Iraq match, along with any players who took part in the Champions League final. The squad faces Peru in Mexico on Monday in their final tune-up.
Group stage outlook
After opening against Cape Verde, Spain meets Saudi Arabia on June 21 in Atlanta and closes group play against Uruguay on June 26 in Guadalajara. Spain has never advanced past the round of 16 since winning its only World Cup title in 2010.
"If nothing changes, he could be ready to play on June 15," De la Fuente said. "It doesn't mean for sure he will play. We'll see. Maybe a few minutes, maybe just practice so he can improve his condition for the second match."