Spain star Lamine Yamal says he still needs time to get fully fit as he continues recovery

[p]The [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/barcelona/SKbpVP5K/"]Barcelona[/a] forward played 25 minutes in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/spain/bLyo6mco/"]Spain[/a]'s ‌lacklustre 0-0 draw with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/cape-verde/MocyWdm7/"]Cape Verde[/a] in their opening, his first ‌appearance in nearly two months.[/p][p]Spain face [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/saudi-arabia/biSY8ox4/"]Saudi Arabia[/a] on Sunday, ‌with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lamine-yamal/lAt3vEub/"]Lamine[/a]'s fitness already a central talking point as the European champions look to ignite a campaign that began with a splutter rather ‌than a sparkle.[/p][p]"[b]I'm fine, I'm feeling good, but ⁠it's too soon, it's ‌unnecessary; I'm still settling in – it's not the right time to play ​a full match yet – but I can play for as many minutes as the manager wants[/b]," Lamine ​told Spanish public television TVE.[/p][p]“[b]I want to be on the pitch; at the end of the day, even if you know ⁠you can’t play for ​90 minutes, you always want to get out there and help the team[/b].”[/p][embed guid="ee4ced72-a47d-4ae6-8f68-ed547cb217a3" url="https://x.com/SEFutbol/status/2067996500936802496" social-type="twitter" /][p]Lamine, who helped Spain win a record-extending fourth European Championship title in 2024, said the injury had inevitably made ‌him think about the World Cup.[/p][p]"[b]All players in the final stages of the season – with every injury, you think about the World Cup, and obviously about your team, but the World Cup is always on your mind[/b]," he said.[/p][p]"[b]After I've heard about the injury, thank God the doctors told me I was going to be ready, and here we are, happy. I hope I never get injured again[/b]."[/p][p]Spain's draw with Cape ‌Verde prompted criticism, but Lamine said the reaction should not ​become a drama.[/p][p]"[b]It's best to move on[/b]," he said. "[b]There was ‌a bit of a fuss over a draw, but in the end lots of teams have struggled in the first round – it doesn't mean anything[/b].[/p][p]"[b]Obviously, we have to win on Sunday because we're among the favourites, but just ⁠because you've drawn doesn't ⁠mean you're one of the ‌worst teams in the World Cup[/b]."[/p][infobox id="4ccc1b10-d68f-4c97-bcf4-5e613c17c2e3" /]