Spain Faces Czech Republic Without Yamal and Oyarzabal
Spain head to Prague for their next UEFA Nations League assignment stripped of two of their sharpest attacking weapons. Lamine Yamal and Mikel Oyarzabal are both out of the trip to face the Czech Republic, leaving Luis de la Fuente to improvise at a crucial point in the group phase.
Yamal stays in Barcelona as knee complaint bites
Spain’s plan had been simple: ride the wave of Lamine Yamal’s form from Barcelona straight into the national team. That plan has been shelved.
The winger will remain in Catalonia after feeling discomfort in his knee in the aftermath of Barça’s bruising win over Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano. Hansi Flick’s side came away with three points, driven by a Fermin Lopez brace, but the intensity of that battle has caught up with their teenage star.
Medical staff at Barcelona and with La Roja have been in constant contact over the 19-year-old. The conclusion is clear: no risks, no flights, no minutes in Prague. Yamal will undergo initial treatment at the club rather than test the joint on a journey and a competitive match in the Czech Republic.
The RFEF has stressed this is a delay, not a withdrawal. The expectation is that, once medical reports show enough improvement, Yamal will link up with the squad later in the week.
Oyarzabal laid low in San Sebastian
If Yamal’s absence is about protection, Oyarzabal’s is about pure bad luck.
The Real Sociedad captain will also miss Thursday night’s encounter after being struck by a severe flu-like illness. He has not been able to travel to the Ciudad del Futbol in Las Rozas and is instead resting at home in San Sebastian.
National team doctors are tracking his temperature and overall condition on a daily basis, waiting for the moment he can safely rejoin the group. The RFEF moved quickly to clarify the situation, underlining that neither he nor Yamal has been definitively ruled out of this international window.
“Both players will join the camp in the coming days to be available to face England at the Estadio Metropolitano,” the federation stated, as quoted by Marca. That England date now looms over every medical update.
De la Fuente shuffles the pack
These setbacks arrive on top of earlier disruptions to De la Fuente’s original squad list. The Spain coach has already been forced to dip deeper into his pool to keep the group competitive for the decisive stretch of the Nations League group stage.
One of those adjustments came on the flanks. With Ander Barrenetxea injured, Jorge de Frutos received the call. The Rayo Vallecano winger offers direct running and width, qualities that suddenly feel essential with Yamal and Oyarzabal both unavailable for Prague.
De Frutos reported to Las Rozas on Monday, slotting into preparations for the Czech Republic clash and pushing his case in a wide department that has been reshaped on the fly.
The absences also open the door for others. Nico Williams and Bryan Zaragoza stand among those who could be thrust into more prominent roles, asked to carry the threat usually shared by two of Spain’s most reliable attacking outlets.
One eye on Prague, the other on England
Officially, the message from the camp is clear: full focus on the Czech Republic. Privately, nobody is ignoring what comes next.
The showdown with England at the Metropolitano is being treated as a marquee occasion, a night when the European champions expect their big names on the pitch, not in the stands. Getting Yamal and Oyarzabal back in time for that game has become a priority for both club and country.
Medical teams from Barcelona and Real Sociedad are feeding regular updates into the national setup to ensure any return is smooth and controlled. De la Fuente, meanwhile, must craft a game plan for Thursday without two of his regular starters, testing both his tactical flexibility and the depth of Spain’s attacking options.
Prague will reveal whether this Spain side can maintain its edge when the usual sparks are missing – and whether the next wave of wide talent is ready to seize the stage before England arrive in Madrid.
