Oviedo offered Spain another glimpse of its newest attacking landmark as Lamine Yamal opened the scoring against Czechia at the Carlos Tartiere, then left the stage at half-time with Tuesday’s Nations League meeting with Croatia already in mind.
Luis de la Fuente described the Barcelona academy product as a player “on the way to becoming a legend” after another early intervention from the 19-year-old forward. Yamal had also struck first in the recent matches against England and Croatia, and his latest piece of individual quality again made him Spain’s most prominent attacking reference on the international scene.
The teenager was the only member of the squad to begin each of La Roja’s three matches in this international window. Yet his withdrawal after 45 minutes was not a response to injury or a sudden tactical change: Spain had planned his reduced workload before kick-off, with the coaching staff seeking to preserve him for the decisive Croatia fixture.
Managing a crowded Spanish camp
Spain’s second half against Czechia carried less of the rhythm seen before the interval, a consequence De la Fuente accepted after making nine alterations to his side. The changes extended to the goalkeeper, where David Raya replaced Unai Simón.
With four matches compressed into ten days, rotation has become a necessity rather than a preference. De la Fuente stressed the need to balance competitive demands with the physical welfare of his players, particularly amid an increasingly tight calendar.
Rodri Hernández and other senior voices in the squad have supported that approach, arguing that regular changes help keep the entire group involved and ready for the tournament’s demands.
Spain now turn towards Croatia with top spot in their Nations League group at stake. Yamal arrives at that match having accumulated 203 minutes during the current international camp, his minutes carefully measured but his influence increasingly difficult to limit.
