Spain chase 44th unbeaten game as Yamal eyes England return

De la Fuente hopeful Yamal will be fit to face England

With qualification already secured and an unbeaten run stretching to 43 games, Spain can afford to be patient with Lamine Yamal, but Luis de la Fuente is still hopeful of having him back for England.

Yamal set to miss Czechs but could return for England clash...

Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has expressed optimism that Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal will recover in time for the highly anticipated Nations League clash against England this weekend.

The 19-year-old has been ruled out of Spain’s trip to Prague to face the Czech Republic on Thursday due to a knee problem. However, the Spanish national team boss remains hopeful that Yamal will regain fitness and join the squad after the encounter, keeping his hopes of featuring against England alive.

Yamal featured for Barcelona in Sunday's 2-1 LaLiga victory over Atletico Madrid, but Spain confirmed on Monday that he would not travel for the clash with the Czechs.

“He got hurt in the last match, he had some discomfort in one knee. He went for the usual treatment: a scan in Barcelona, and they saw he had inflammation and fluid in the knee - that meant he needed rest,” De la Fuente told reporters.

“Our medical staff and his medical staff have a fantastic relationship, and I decided that his trip here should be avoided without knowing whether he'd be in any condition to play.”

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The coach said he had spoken to the winger and that his recovery was progressing well ahead of England's visit to Madrid on Sunday.

“He's doing a series of exercises with his physio and with the club that indicate the recovery is going well,” De la Fuente added.

“We believe, I'm optimistic, that on Friday he'll be with us.”

De la Fuente rejected any suggestion that Yamal, who finished third in the Ballon d'Or voting in October, receives special treatment compared with his La Roja team-mates.

“He has no privileges, and his teammates are relaxed about it, because we treat everyone the same,” added the coach.

“In similar situations we would have done exactly the same for any other player, and the players know that.”

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Chasing Another Milestone

Spain have taken maximum points from their four matches in Group A3 so far and have already booked their spot in the quarter-finals.

De la Fuente's men are now unbeaten in 43 consecutive competitive games, a run the coach said only sharpens his side's hunger.

“We want to keep setting new milestones, and this is another one,” De la Fuente explained.

“We want to keep setting new milestones, and this is another one,” explained De la Fuente.

“None of us would probably ever have thought we'd even reach 35, because we already felt those were astronomical numbers, but having reached 43, you think, my goodness, we want to get to 44, of course we do.”

Spain's last outing ended in victory away to Croatia, with Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino scoring twice to settle the contest.

De la Fuente has repeatedly turned to Merino from the bench to change games, and the midfielder delivered again at this summer's World Cup, netting vital goals against Portugal and Belgium after coming on as a substitute.

🎙️ "Santi Denia es mi amigo y he hablado esta mañana con él. Me alegro de todo lo bueno que le pase". ➡️ "Le conozco muy bien como profesional. Me enseñó a ser seleccionador y es un gran técnico. Hará un gran trabajo aquí". 🗣️ Luis de la Fuente. #VamosEspaña | #NationsLeague https://t.co/B9jw9Y7nfj

— Selección Española Masculina de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) November 11, 2026

Merino admitted he is eager for a bigger role in the starting XI, but stressed he will not cause any trouble over it.

“Of course, what player wouldn't like to get (more) minutes?” Merino told reporters.

“You'll never hear me complain about the coach's decision, I will respect it... but all players want to be important, have minutes and enjoy themselves on the pitch.”