Luis de la Fuente says Lamine Yamal is on track to be fit for Spain's opener against Cape Verde on 15 June, with Nico Williams also recovering on schedule. The European champions' 26 is notable for what's missing: no Real Madrid players at all. Spain face Saudi Arabia and Uruguay in Group H.
The hamstring Yamal hurt converting an April penalty had threatened his group stage; the latest from De la Fuente is that the timeline now points to the opener rather than beyond it. We had mapped his reintegration at the third group game — the update brings it forward, and Nico Williams is tracking the same recovery curve.
The eye-catcher is the absence of any Madrid representation, a first in living memory and a marker of where the balance of Spanish club power now sits. Group H — Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay — is among the friendliest draws of any contender.
Champions of Europe, built without the Bernabéu. Spain's squad is a statement before a ball is kicked.
A fully fit Yamal remains the cheapest premium captain of the knockouts; in the group stage, the value route into this attack is Mikel Oyarzabal. The soft path is also why Spain top our favourites shortlist.
Sources: ESPN — squad · ESPN — Yamal fit for opener · beIN Sports.