Spanish national team star Lamine Yamal admitted Sunday he had been \u201cafraid\u201d of missing the World Cup because of the hamstring injury he is still recovering from.\n<\/p>\n
The 18-year-old suffered the injury as he scored a penalty for Barcelona against Celta Vigo on April 22.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cInternally, I was praying it was nothing, that it was just cramp or something like that, because the World Cup was very close and I knew that a hamstring injury is never a short-term thing,\u201d said the winger to the Spanish football federation\u2019s own media outlet.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cI was afraid it might be serious and, above all, that even if it wasn\u2019t serious, I could suffer a setback and end up missing the World Cup.\u201d<\/p>\n
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente is hopeful he will have him available for La Roja\u2019s opening game at the World Cup against Cape Verde on June 15. <\/p>\n
On Sunday, the player warmed up with his teammates in Spain\u2019s first training session before heading to work in the gym.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s also true that it helps knowing you\u2019re going to play a World Cup, so mentally it\u2019s like you haven\u2019t played a single game all season, and I\u2019m really eager to make my debut (at the tournament),\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Yamal, who starred as Spain won Euro 2024 in Germany, said the World Cup is the \u201cbiggest thing\u201d in football and he has dreamt \u201ca thousand times\u201d about lifting the trophy.\n<\/p>\n
If Yamal does not make the first match he is expected to play some part against Saudi Arabia in the second on June 21, and Uruguay on June 27 in the other Group H fixtures.\n<\/p>\n
AFP\n <\/p>\n
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