De la Fuente plays down Yamal absence as Spain eye World Cup spot

VIDEO SHOWS: SPAIN TRAINING AND PRESS CONFERENCE COMMENTS FROM HEAD COACH, LUIS DE LA FUENTE, AHEAD OF WORLD CUP QUALIFIER AWAY TO GEORGIA SHOWS: TBILISI, GEORGIA (NOVEMBER 14, 2025) (REUTERS – Access all) 1. SPAIN PLAYERS ON TRAINING PITCH 2. HEAD COACH, LUIS DE LA FUENTE 3. FORWARD, SAMU AGHEHOWA, PASSING BALL WITH TEAMMATES/ PLAYERS WARMING UP 4. GOALKEEPER, DAVID RAYA, WALKING 5. VARIOUS OF RONDO DRILLS 6. DEFENDER, MARC CUCURELLA, GOING IN THE MIDDLE FOR RONDO 7. DE LA FUENTE WALKING 8. VARIOUS OF RONDO DRILLS 9. GOALKEEPERS, UNAI SIMON, AND, ALEX REMIRO, TRAINING 10. WIDE OF RONDO DRILL 11. PRESS CONFERENCE WITH DE LA FUENTE 12. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPAIN HEAD COACH, LUIS DE LA FUENTE, ON LAMINE YAMAL PULLING OUT OF THE SQUAD DUE TO INJURY, SAYING "Look Fernando, I think that’s the best of the news. All the time in the future that Lamine will have with us god willing is what we need to be thinking about now in the present and going forward. In the present, we need to count on the players we have available. They are fantastic footballers. And we need to win tomorrow, to try and win tomorrow to all but lock up qualification. That’s the only thing we’re concerned about. Nothing else." 13. PRESS CONFERENCE ONGOING 14. SPAIN HEAD COACH, LUIS DE LA FUENTE, SAYING: "Our main objective, indeed our only objective is qualifying for the World Cup, regardless of the stats and figures that come out of this qualification stage. We want to win tomorrow to almost ensure qualification, which depends as well on the result in Turkey’s match as well. But I insist we’re going to fight, work hard and do things well to give us the best chance to win." 15. PRESS CONFERENCE ONGOING STORY: Spain manager Luis de la Fuente played down the controversy surrounding Lamine Yamal's release from the squad, instead emphasising the teenage winger's long-term importance to the side ahead of Saturday's (November 14) World Cup qualifier against Georgia. The 18-year-old Barcelona sensation was released from Spain's squad on Tuesday for their qualifiers against Georgia and Turkey after treatment on a groin injury, prompting criticism from the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF). Yamal, who has missed five matches for Barca this season due to the issue, had an invasive radio frequency procedure on Monday, the same day Spain's training camp began, RFEF said. De la Fuente later described the situation as something he had not come across previously. However, he struck a more reassuring tone when discussing the matter ahead of this weekend's game in the Georgian capital Tbilisi. "The best news is that he has 15 years left with us," De la Fuente told reporters on Friday. "We have to think about the present and the future. The present means relying on the players we have, winning and almost securing qualification, and that is our concern. Capped 23 times, Yamal has bagged six goals and contributed six assists in 11 matches for Barcelona in this campaign. Spain top Group E with 12 points from four matches, scoring 15 goals and conceding none. They will qualify for next year's finals if they defeat Georgia and second-placed Turkey do not beat bottom side Bulgaria or if they draw and Turkey lose. "Our aim is to qualify for the World Cup," De la Fuente said. "Regardless of the results in this phase, we want to win to secure our place in the qualifiers, and that means fighting, working hard and doing things right to give ourselves the best chance of winning." Spain head into the clash against Georgia brimming with confidence as they ride a 29-match unbeaten run in competitive games after last month's 4-0 victory over Bulgaria. (Production: Dato Chkhikvishvili, Conal Quinn)

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