Spain trained in public on Tuesday evening at the Las Rozas training complex, under the watchful eye of Luis de la Fuente. ‘La Roja’ began their preparations for the last international break of 2025, but several key players were missing.
Spain‘s squad began preparations for their final two 2026 World Cup qualifiers with an evening session at the Las Rozas training complex, following the perplexing situation surrounding Lamine Yamal‘s recurring groin issue. The player has returned to Barcelona after an incident that has reportedly caused friction within the coaching and medical staff.
Spanish coach Luis de la Fuente has moved on from an incident that surprised and dismayed him. According to ‘EFE’ sources within the federation, Barcelona did not communicate the invasive radiofrequency treatment on Lamine Yamal‘s pubis until it was administered to the player on Monday morning.
Both De la Fuente, the national team director Aitor Karanka, and even the president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) had made statements after Lamine Yamal‘s call-up on Friday for the matches against Georgia and Turkey.
Following the 18-year-old’s return to the national team, after missing the October matches due to the groin issue, everyone had assured that he would be well looked after and no risks would be taken with a player who had been consistently playing for Barcelona and regaining his form, scoring in the last three matches.
The Federation requested explanations from Barcelona, but a response was delayed for hours, eventually arriving with a medical recommendation for Lamine Yamal to rest for between seven and ten days, which forced the decision to withdraw the player from the squad.
Back home, and with Jorge de Frutos called up as a late replacement, Spain now have to contend with the absence of Lamine Yamal in addition to Dani Carvajal, Robin Le Normand, Rodri Hernández, Pedri and Nico Williams, all of whom are regular starters for De la Fuente, for the matches that conclude the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
With Pablo Fornals back in the fold, just four years after his last appearance for the national side, alongside Dean Huijsen, Fabián Ruiz and Fermín López, the Spanish national team kicked off preparations on a chilly afternoon at the Ciudad del Fútbol de Las Rozas. The fans, who packed the stands of the main pitch, provided a warm atmosphere.
The Spanish internationals debuted the new training kit that they will wear at the World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. It is blue with the Spanish flag on the shoulders.
De la Fuente distributed workloads based on the physical fatigue of his players, who started together with warm-ups and rondos, and short sprints over hurdles. Goalkeepers David Raya and Álex Remiro then moved on to specific goalkeeping drills, while Unai Simón completed a recovery session.
The Basque goalkeeper joined a group with Pablo Fornals, Borja Iglesias, Mikel Zubimendi, Samu, Pau Cubarsí, Dani Olmo, De Frutos, Dani Vivian and Fermín, who loosened their legs with a series of runs. After half an hour, they retired to the fans’ area to sign autographs and take pictures.
Others worked more intensely in an exercise with four goals in confined spaces, followed by a match on half the pitch and a series of final shots. Marc Cucurella, Álex Baena, Pablo Barrios, Mikel Oyarzabal, Marcos Llorente, Dean Huijsen, Aleix García, Ferran Torres and Yeremy Pino were all watched closely by De la Fuente, who spoke with Aitor Karanka on the pitch after a chaotic Tuesday at the national team’s training camp.