Spain are set to go to Prague without Lamine Yamal on Thursday night. The forward has a right-knee irritation after the match against Atletico Madrid, and he is expected to miss the Czech Republic vs Spain meeting at 20:45.
Spain's selection call
The plan is still to have him join the camp on Friday, with Sunday kept alive as a possible return date against England at the Estadio Metropolitano. That is the part Spain are clearly managing carefully. The issue, as reported by Sky Sport Italia, is discomfort rather than anything more severe, and Luis de la Fuente has already said: "He has nothing. He was ready to play, and if there had been an emergency, we would surely have made him play. But it is not worth taking any risks, and we are thinking first of his health."
Spain can afford that approach because they sit top of League A - Group C with 12 points from 4 matches. The Czech Republic are bottom with 0 points from 4 matches, so the immediate pressure on Thursday is limited. England are second on 9 points from 4 matches, which gives Sunday a different edge if Yamal is cleared.
Edu Aguirre has argued against that selective approach, saying: "If you are not there for the Thursday match, then you are not there for the Sunday match. End of story. Are you injured? You do not come. I do not like these selective call-ups." His point is plain enough, but Spain's stance is also clear. They are protecting a player who has already produced 10 goals and 8 assists in 12 appearances for Barcelona this season, plus 3 goals and 4 assists in 4 Nations League appearances for Spain.
The final word comes on the pitch, first in Prague and then, potentially, in Madrid. Spain face the Czech Republic on Thursday, 12 November, and then turn to England on Sunday.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 4 outlets. How we work →
