Spain’s status as World Cup favourites may be in jeopardy with their injury room packed after a testing match against Uruguay.
Spain won 1-0 in their final group game, but extended their injury list to three up front.
Victor Munoz arrived injured, and so did Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams.
Coach Luis de la Fuente was questioned over those calls, and now things have only got louder.
Victor Munoz injury update
Munoz is yet to feature for Spain having suffered a relapse of an injury with Osasuna.
The new Liverpool winger returned to full training before the Uruguay match but aggravated the issues and is now out until at least the last 16.
Cadena SER’s Javier Herráez reported: “He won’t be ready for July 2nd. He’s ready, hopefully, when we’re in the quarterfinals and semi-finals and he’s suddenly needed.
“He needs to make a run, create space, and deliver a perfect cross. That’s what Victor Munoz is here for.”
Nico Williams injury update
He’s since been joined by Athletic’s Williams. The winger hadn’t played since the start of May and featured as a substitute in both of Spain’s openers.
He again came on for the end of the Uruguay match, but was clattered by Nico de la Cruz in overly physical scenes.
An update from the Spanish football federation [RFEF] read: “He has suffered another muscle injury to his right adductor after a severe trauma caused by a tackle.
“Both injuries are of a moderate severity and his availability will depend on his recovery.”
Williams later released an update which seemed to suggest his World Cup was over.
“Today is one of the worst days of my life,” he wrote.
“I’ve been injured again after a very difficult year, in which my pubalgia [groin] won many battles, but not the war.
“I managed to overcome it with hard work, sacrifice, and above all, responsibility. It was a year and a half of suffering, sadness, uncertainty, and anxiety.
“I didn’t know when I would be able to play without pain again or when I would get back to a normal life. I even had to live with the pain in simple things like going to the bathroom, getting in and out of the car, or simply enjoying everyday life.
“Being happy playing football again was my top priority, along with getting my smile back. Because without a smile, without enjoying it, and without being happy, I can’t perform at my best. I overcame it.
“Then a hamstring injury appeared, which tested me again. Once again, I stopped smiling, but I wasn’t going to stop.
“Yesterday, I suffered another injury after a play in which a fellow professional acted out of frustration, discontent, and sadness about the situation he was going through.
“It was a play that, in my In my opinion, it could have been avoided because it was completely unnecessary. But this won’t stop me either. I know God has a plan for me, and I will keep fighting until the very last moment to get back to doing what I love most: playing football, being happy, and bringing joy to others.
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone for your messages of support. The story isn’t over; I’ll see you as soon as possible at this World Cup.”
Yeremy Pino injury update
Spain are even lighter upfront with Yeremy Pino suffering a shoulder injury that could end his World Cup.
The forward left the game in a sling, but a collarbone break has been ruled out by the RFEF.
Speaking before that moment, De la Fuente said: “He’s suffering a lot. The effort he made was tremendous, probably with a broken collarbone, holding on until the end of the match. It was heroic.”
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