Spain Coach Backs Call to Leave Lamine Yamal on Bench vs Cape Verde

Luis de la Fuente has defended his decision to leave Lamine Yamal out of Spain national team's starting lineup after their World Cup campaign began with a frustrating 0-0 draw against the Cape Verde national team. Spain came into the tournament as one of the sides expected to make a deep run, so dropping points in the opener was already a major talking point.

But the bigger surprise for many fans was seeing Yamal start on the bench instead of being used from the first whistle. De la Fuente eventually brought him on as Spain searched for a breakthrough, but after the game, the manager stood by the call and made it clear he felt it was the right decision.

Following the game when asked about his decision to bench Yamal and Nico Williams, de la Fuente said, "Lamine Yamal and Nico on the bench? We are building the best fitness condition for them. They are improving, for sure."

Luis de la Fuente: "Lamine Yamal and Nico on the bench? We are building the best fitness condition for them".



"They are improving, for sure". pic.twitter.com/SGk5S3uGVn

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 15, 2026

What made the night so awkward for Spain was that Cape Verde never played like a team waiting to be beaten. They did not arrive with the attitude of a small nation just happy to be there. They looked prepared, stubborn, and completely comfortable turning the game into something Spain did not enjoy.

Spain had most of the ball, but that never really told the full story. Too often, their passing looked neat without being dangerous. They moved Cape Verde from side to side, but the spaces they needed rarely opened up. When Spain did get into better areas, the final action was missing, whether it was the last pass, the shot, or the movement inside the box.

Cape Verde, meanwhile, grew into the occasion. They stayed compact, made Spain work for every opening, and showed enough pace on the break to keep the game from becoming one-way traffic. Their players celebrated blocks and clearances like goals, and that energy slowly turned the match into a test of Spanish patience.

That is where the absence of direct running from the start became obvious. Spain needed someone willing to attack defenders, unsettle the shape, and create panic. When Yamal entered, there was immediately more buzz, but Cape Verde had already settled into the rhythm of the game by then.

For Spain, this is not a disaster, but it is definitely uncomfortable. They will still expect to qualify, but this was a reminder that reputation does not win World Cup matches. Cape Verde made them earn everything, and Spain did not earn enough.

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This story was originally published June 15, 2026 at 1:14 PM.