Lamine Yamal is rested from Spain training ahead of the final against Argentiona at the 2026 World Cup By Thiago Lemos
2 min read
 |
With full focus on the World Cup final against Argentina, the Spanish team began training. This Thursday, July 16, in New Jersey, the squad was on the pitch for the first time after the triumph over France. The session, however, registered the absences of Pedro Porro and Lamine Yamal, who were preserved due to muscular overload, indicating a cautious strategy by the technical committee for the decision.
Both players receive extra care from the coaching staff, given the intense wear and tear accumulated throughout the competition. While the rest of the group participated in a warm-up with light exercises at the New York RB training center, the pair dedicated themselves solely to physical activation, following an individualized recovery plan.
During the session, Lamine Yamal was seen using an elastic bandage on his left thigh, an area that had already been injured at the end of the European season, when he was still playing for Barcelona. This precaution reinforces the concern to avoid any worsening before the decisive game.
The participation of Pedro Porro and Lamine Yamal was crucial for Spain to secure their place in the World Cup final. In the 2-0 victory against France, the striker was responsible for originating the penalty converted by Oyarzabal, which opened the scoring, and the full-back, in turn, advanced into the area to score the second goal, demonstrating the tactical importance of both.
Throughout the Spanish campaign, Porro was among the starters in five matches and had an almost uninterrupted performance in the decisive clashes of the knockout stage, being replaced only in the final minutes of the clash against France.
Yamal began his World Cup journey as an option on the bench, in the game against Cape Verde, while recovering from a muscle injury to his left thigh. His minutes on the field were carefully managed until the second phase of the tournament (totaling 225 of a possible 360 minutes), but since then he has played fully in the last three matches.
The grand final of the World Cup, which will pit Spain and Argentina face to face, will be played at 4pm (Brasília time) this Sunday, July 19, in New Jersey. Yamal’s team is looking to win their second world championship, while the Argentines have the chance to win their fourth title in the tournament’s history.
