Defeating Uruguay to claim the top spot in Group H, Spain paid the price with an injury crisis that has overturned their plans for the knockout round.
At the Guadalajara stadium on June 27, Spain completed their goal of securing all 3 points against Uruguay to close out the group stage in the leading position. However, the joy of victory was quickly overshadowed by an alarming squad situation.
Nico Williams was forced to leave the pitch due to a groin injury following a heavy collision. Meanwhile, Yeremy Pino suffered a shoulder injury late in the second half and required the care of the medical team. Despite trying to play until the end of the match, the Villarreal player still left the coaching staff worried.
Coach Luis de la Fuente admitted that Williams suffered muscle tightness or overload. However, he was particularly pessimistic about Pino’s case. The 64-year-old manager called his player’s match effort “extraordinary”, while also fearing that the player might have to say goodbye to the rest of the World Cup due to a suspected fractured collarbone.
Medical test results showed that Pino suffered a shoulder sprain, while Williams sustained an adductor muscle injury in his right thigh. Both injuries were assessed as moderate, and their ability to feature in the knockout round will depend on the recovery process in the coming days.
Difficulties are further piling up for “La Roja” as the team was already short on personnel on both wings. Lamine Yamal has just returned from a hamstring injury back in April, while Victor Munoz has yet to play a single minute at the World Cup due to a leg muscle injury.
If Williams, Pino, and Munoz all fail to recover in time, Coach De la Fuente will be forced to reshuffle the lineup. Gavi could continue to be pulled over to the left wing as in the match against Cape Verde, or Mikel Oyarzabal will take on this role, creating conditions for Ferran Torres or Borja Iglesias to play as a center-forward, while Yamal guards the right wing.
