Spain will be without Barcelona’s rising star, Lamine Yamal, for their Euro 2024 qualifier against Scotland at Estadio de La Cartuja on Thursday. The 16-year-old, who made history as Spain’s youngest-ever player and goal scorer in a 7-1 win over Georgia last month, has had to withdraw from the national team due to a hip injury.
Another winger, Yeremy Pino, has also been forced to withdraw after suffering a hamstring injury during the first half of Villarreal’s 2-1 La Liga defeat to Las Palmas on Sunday. Additionally, several key players like Pedri (hamstring), Dani Olmo (knee), Marco Asensio (foot), and Jose Gaya (thigh) are unavailable due to injuries.
In response to these absences, La Roja head coach Luis de la Fuente has called up Ansu Fati, who is currently on loan at Brighton & Hove Albion from Barcelona, and Granada’s Bryan Zaragoza, receiving his first senior call-up. Both attackers are in contention for Thursday’s match.
Without Yamal and Pino, the starting lineup may see Ferran Torres starting on the right side of the front three, with Alvaro Morata leading the attack and Nico Williams on the left wing.
In midfield, Gavi, Rodri, and Mikel Merino are the likely trio to start, although Fabian Ruiz could challenge Merino for a place in De la Fuente’s starting eleven.
Left-back Jose Gaya played in Spain’s most recent match, a 6-0 victory over Cyprus on September 12, but his absence from the squad this month is likely to see Alejandro Balde earning his seventh international cap as the left-back. The rest of the back four could include Aymeric Laporte, Robin Le Normand, and Dani Carvajal. Unai Simon is expected to continue as the goalkeeper.
Spain’s potential starting lineup: Unai Simon; Dani Carvajal, Robin Le Normand, Aymeric Laporte, Alejandro Balde; Mikel Merino, Rodri, Gavi; Ferran Torres, Alvaro Morata, Nico Williams.