{
  "id": 19541691,
  "title": "Spain coach optimistic over Yamal’s fitness ahead of England clash",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/11/spain-coach-optimistic-over-yamals-fitness-ahead-of-england-clash-19541691",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-11T19:55:19.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch",
    "slug": "punch",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/spain-coach-optimistic-over-yamals-fitness-ahead-of-england-clash/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Spain coach Luis de la Fuente expressed optimism on Wednesday that Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal will be fit to face England in the Nations League match this weekend. Yamal, who will miss the Czech Republic clash on Thursday due to a knee injury, played for Barcelona in their recent 2-1 La Liga win over Atletico Madrid. De la Fuente stated that Yamal's medical staff and Spain's medical staff have a strong relationship, which influenced the coach's decision to avoid sending the 19-year-old to the Czech Republic. The coach confirmed that Yamal is undergoing exercises with his physio and the club, indicating positive recovery progress. De la Fuente emphasized that all players, including Yamal, are treated equally, and the team's motivation to set new milestones, such as being unbeaten in their last 43 competitive matches, fuels their ambition. Spain's midfielder Espí Viní Jr, who recently had emergency heart treatment, expressed no desire to complain about the coach's decisions, stating that he respects them and will focus on playing his role on the pitch.",
  "summary": "Spain coach Luis de la Fuente says he is optimistic winger Lamine Yamal will recover from a knee injury in time to face England in the Nations League. Read More: https://punchng.com/spain-coach-optimistic-over-yamals-fitness-ahead-of-england-clash/",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}