Spain welcome Yamal after agreed rest as England target Nations League top spot

Lamine Yamal has joined Spain’s training camp at Las Rozas and is available for Sunday’s decisive Nations League meeting with England at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.

The Barcelona winger missed Spain’s previous match against Czechia as a precaution, but has now reported for international duty after completing an agreed period of rest. He will train with Luis de la Fuente’s squad ahead of a game that will determine the group leaders.

Spanish newspaper Marca reported that Yamal arrived at the camp with the rest of the players after following the planned recovery schedule. The 15 November fixture will also decide which side earns home advantage for the second leg of its quarter-final tie in the Nations League.

England will attempt to reclaim top spot after losing the previous meeting between the teams at Wembley. Spain therefore go into the contest knowing a draw would not necessarily be enough to secure first place, while England will be seeking a response and a victory that would move them above their opponents.

Yamal’s absence from the Czechia game prompted questions, with De la Fuente expressing his frustration before that match and insisting the decision was based on medical advice rather than preferential treatment.

“It’s sad and unfortunate that some people talk about life without knowing the truth. That is why I came here to clarify things,” De la Fuente said. “Lamine has inflammation in his knee. The national team medical staff examined him, and I decided it would be better, to avoid this journey, for him to stay at home and train with his club.”

The Spain manager also rejected suggestions that the 18-year-old had received special treatment.

“I’m not concerned by messages coming from outside because I am here to explain things clearly,” he added. “People create explanations that have nothing to do with reality. Lamine does not receive any privileges, and we would have made the same decision with any other player.”

De la Fuente returned to the issue in an angry response to what he described as inaccurate reporting.

“What hurts me most is lying, the lack of accuracy and credibility, and making things up,” he said. “That is why I revealed more details than I should have, but it was the only way for people to know what really happened. I cannot stand people who try to deceive you and lie to you.”

Yamal’s return gives De la Fuente one of Spain’s key attacking players for the group-defining encounter. The winger reached camp in good physical condition after the rest agreed between the club and national team, leaving him ready to be considered for the meeting with England.