Luis de la Fuente eases Lamine Yamal injury fears after Spain reach World Cup final

Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has played down concerns over Lamine Yamal’s fitness after the teenage star appeared to struggle physically during La Roja’s 2-0 World Cup semi-final victory over France.

The Spain boss also offered an update on Pedro Porro, who was forced off late in the match with a suspected muscle issue.

Positive signs for Yamal

Yamal was seen limping at several points during Tuesday’s semi-final, prompting concerns over his availability for the World Cup final.

However, De la Fuente revealed there were no immediate signs of a significant injury after speaking with Spain’s medical staff.

“Lamine doesn’t have anything that I know of. I’ve spoken with the doctors now.”

The update will come as a major relief for Spain, with the Barcelona winger playing a key role throughout the tournament.

Porro to undergo further assessment

While Yamal appears to have avoided a serious problem, Porro’s condition remains less certain.

The Tottenham defender was replaced by Marcos Llorente in the 85th minute after appearing to suffer a muscle complaint.

De la Fuente confirmed the full extent of the injury will become clearer after further examinations.

“Pedro Porro seems to have overuse injuries, but we’ll see tomorrow.”

Spain’s medical staff are expected to assess whether the full-back can recover in time for Sunday’s final.

Proud of Spain’s progress

The Spain manager praised both the football and physical condition of his squad after overcoming France to reach another major tournament final.

De la Fuente believes the team’s performances are the product of sustained development rather than good fortune.

“I’m surprised by what this team is capable of, and the room for improvement is endless.”

“This isn’t by chance: it’s talent, hard work, sacrifice, perseverance, and we knew we had to keep improving little by little throughout the tournament.”

He also highlighted the squad’s growing confidence after another dominant display.

Full focus on the final

Despite celebrating Spain’s place in the World Cup final, De la Fuente stressed that the job is not yet complete.

The coach praised the quality of Spanish football while insisting his players remain fully focused on lifting the trophy.

“For me, Spanish footballers are the best at understanding the game in the world.”

“We’re happy, but we’re not satisfied with this.”

“What’s coming is more difficult, and we’re eager to play the final.”

With Yamal expected to be fit and optimism surrounding his recovery, Spain will now turn their attention to the biggest match of the tournament as they aim to become world champions once again.