- Spain has opted to leave star forward Lamine Yamal on the bench for their World Cup opening fixture against tournament debutants Cape Verde.
- Barcelona's Yamal, a standout at Euro 2024, had been under an injury cloud, though manager Luis de la Fuente confirmed he was fit enough to participate in the match.
- Spain, who won the European Championship two summers ago, are entering the tournament with aspirations of achieving world glory.
- Despite being debutants, Cape Verde possesses players with significant high-level European experience and are regular participants in the Africa Cup of Nations, suggesting they could challenge their more fancied opponents.
- The match is anticipated to be a demanding start for Bubista’s Cape Verde side, but their experience indicates they have the capacity to cause an upset in tournament football.
IN FULL
