Spain seeks first World Cup win as Yamal return looms on De la Fuente’s 65th birthday

Spain head into their World Cup match against Saudi Arabia on Sunday at 19:00, in Atlanta, still searching for their first win of the tournament. Luis de la Fuente, who turns 65, had hoped for a better start, but Spain opened with a frustrating 0-0 draw against Cape Verde, while Saudi Arabia drew 1-1 with Uruguay. After one round, all four teams in Group 8 have one point.

Spanish media has sharply criticized the team for a lack of creativity, slow tempo and failure to meet expectations. At a press conference at the Atlanta stadium, de la Fuente said the criticism has reached the squad, but insisted there is no panic. “We live in a bubble, but the criticism motivates us because we have very competitive players,” he said. “I am not really listening to everything said, but some things get through. The players are aware of what is written and said.” He added, “There is no despair. We are full of motivation. We want to get back on the pitch and recover the good feelings we had before the first game.”

Spain believe the main issue is clear, after dominating possession against Cape Verde but creating very few chances. De la Fuente said opponents usually sit deep against Spain, and admitted his side lacked sharpness: “We were not sharp enough. We lacked speed and better ball movement.” The big question is whether 18-year-old Lamine Yamal, widely viewed as the world’s biggest talent, will play more after returning from injury and coming off the bench in the opener. De la Fuente smiled when asked, and said, “The good news is that he feels good. We will see how many minutes he plays, but the most important thing is that he is back.”

Saudi Arabia, led by former Maccabi Tel Aviv coach Giorgos Donis, do not expect to merely defend. Donis said his team must respect Spain but not too much, and must be compact, dynamic and believe in themselves. He praised Yamal as “the biggest talent in the world today,” noting his maturity at such a young age. Spain have beaten Saudi Arabia in all three previous meetings, including 1-0 at the 2006 World Cup, and the Saudis have never beaten Spain in any official or friendly match. Still, Spain’s current form is a concern, with no wins in their last four World Cup matches and six draws in their last nine. De la Fuente said his ideal birthday present would be, “that we are healthy, that we play well, and that we win.”