Spain’s De la Fuente hopeful teen star Yamal can face England

Spain's national team coach, Luis de la Fuente, remains optimistic that Barcelona's young winger, Lamine Yamal, will recover from a knee injury in time to represent Spain against England in the Nations League this weekend. The 19-year-old Yamal, who played for Barcelona in a 2-1 La Liga win over Atletico Madrid on Sunday, will miss Spain's match against the Czech Republic on Thursday due to his knee problem.

Yamal had a scan in Barcelona, which revealed inflammation and fluid in the knee, necessitating rest. Spain's medical staff and Yamal's medical team have a close working relationship, and De la Fuente decided not to send Yamal to the Czech Republic without knowing if he would be fit to play. Following his recovery, Yamal is expected to join Spain for their match against England on Sunday.

De la Fuente dismissed any notion that Yamal might receive special treatment, stating that Spain treats all its players equally. The Spanish team has won all four games in their current group and have secured their spot in the quarter-finals, providing them with motivation to continue their winning streak. Spain's last 43 competitive matches are unbeaten, and De la Fuente believes that the team wants to set new records in their journey.