Spain to miss Yamal, Williams, Merino in Iraq friendly

Spain will be without several key players for a pre-World Cup friendly against Iraq on Thursday as the team manages a series of injuries, but manager Luis de la Fuente expressed confidence that his squad will be ready for the tournament's start next week. The European champions begin their Group H campaign against Cape Verde in Atlanta on June 15.

De la Fuente confirmed that star forward Lamine Yamal, along with teammates Nico Williams and Mikel Merino, will not feature in the warm-up match in A Coruña. Yamal, the 18-year-old Barcelona winger, suffered a torn biceps femoris in his left hamstring in late April, ending his club season prematurely. Williams is managing a muscle injury, while Merino recently returned from foot surgery.

Despite their absences, the Spanish manager offered an optimistic outlook for the trio's availability for the World Cup opener. He stated that if Yamal's rehabilitation continues at its current rate, the player could be ready for the match against Cape Verde, though his participation is not guaranteed. The plan, de la Fuente explained, is to follow a scheduled timeline with the players' clubs.

"If everything continues as it has been so far, he could be...