Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente says his squad is fully fit and ready for Thursday’s World Cup Round of 32 clash against Austria, with Lamine Yamal, Victor Munoz and Yeremy Pino all available for selection.
Despite progressing from the group stage, Spain have yet to consistently hit top form. A draw against Cape Verde and a narrow victory over Uruguay raised questions about their performances, while their emphatic 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia remains their standout display of the tournament.
De la Fuente believes his side is heading in the right direction and expects a stronger performance in the knockout stage.
“What I am seeing this week is that the team is beginning to recognise the areas we need to improve,” the Spain coach told reporters.
Lamine Yamal’s minutes have been carefully managed since returning from a hamstring injury suffered in April, but De la Fuente confirmed the Barcelona youngster is now capable of playing as long as the match requires.
Spain have also received further fitness boosts, with Yeremy Pino recovering from a left shoulder sprain and Victor Munoz returning after overcoming a muscle injury, although the latter has not featured competitively for some time.
De la Fuente dismissed suggestions that the weight of expectation from Spanish fans could affect his players, despite Spain’s struggles at recent World Cups following their triumph in 2010.
“I like that people expect a lot from us because it means they believe in this team,” he said. “Our job is to live up to those expectations.”
Spain trained in a relaxed atmosphere on Wednesday, with Yamal seen laughing and joking with teammates during the session.
Although De la Fuente revealed he has already decided on his starting lineup for the Austria clash, he declined to reveal any details ahead of the knockout encounter.
