Spain is gearing up to face Serbia in the Nations League, but they will be missing several key players for the match. Despite the absence of seven notable stars, coach Luis de la Fuente remains confident in the squad he has at his disposal. A victory against Serbia would bring Spain closer to qualifying for the next stage of the tournament, as they have already accumulated seven points from their first three games.
One of the players who will be missing from the Spanish squad is Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, who recently suffered a hamstring strain. De la Fuente described Yamal as “irreplaceable,” but emphasized that the team will need to move forward and make the best of the situation. Atletico Madrid’s Rodrigo Riquelme has been called up to replace Yamal and will be looking to make an impact in the upcoming match.
In addition to Yamal, Spain will also be without Nico Williams, Unai Simon, Dani Carvajal, Robin Le Normand, Rodri, and Dani Olmo, all of whom played key roles in Spain’s Euro 2024 success. De la Fuente acknowledged that each of these players brings something unique to the team and will be missed, but he expressed confidence in the remaining players who will take the field against Serbia.
Despite the challenges posed by the absence of so many key players, De la Fuente remains optimistic about Spain’s chances in the upcoming match. He highlighted the difference between working with a national team compared to a club team, emphasizing that the limited time available for preparation requires players to quickly adapt and internalize their roles on the team.
As Spain prepares to take on Serbia, the team will need to come together and make the most of the talent available to them. While the absence of key players presents a challenge, it also provides an opportunity for other members of the squad to step up and prove themselves on the international stage. With De la Fuente’s confidence in the team’s abilities, Spain will be looking to secure a victory that will bring them closer to their Nations League goals.
