Top News

Spain sealed their place in the knockout rounds as group winners on Friday night with a hard-fought 1-0 triumph over Uruguay in their final group stage clash. However, the victory may have come at a heavy cost, as La Roja now face potential injury setbacks to two of their key players.

Alex Baena netted the decisive goal in the 42nd minute, which turned out to be the only strike in a tightly contested match that featured just three shots on target in total. Although Uruguay pushed to equalise and remain in the tournament, their approach leaned more towards physical play rather than attacking flair – a tactic that ultimately left Spain battered and bruised.

Crystal Palace winger Yeremy Pino came on as a substitute in the 66th minute for match-winner Baena. Late in the game, a strong challenge from Brian Rodriguez saw Pino suffer a shoulder injury. Spain’s head coach Luis de la Fuente confirmed after the match that the issue could be serious.

“Unfortunately, it might be a collarbone injury; we’ll have to wait for the test results tomorrow. He’s in considerable pain, but the way he pushed through to finish the match was remarkable – it was a heroic display. I’m extremely grateful, and his teammates appreciate his effort even more,” de la Fuente told Marca.

According to the Spanish newspaper, Pino is believed to have suffered a broken shoulder, an injury that could sideline him for several months and rule him out for the remainder of the World Cup.

Meanwhile, Athletic Club’s Nico Williams is also a major concern. “We have to wait; he’s feeling some discomfort. It might be muscle fatigue or an overload. We’ll see,” de la Fuente told reporters. Williams, who entered the game in the 76th minute, was brought down heavily by Nicolas de la Cruz while attempting to launch a counter-attack.

Pino had been one of the main alternatives to fill in for Williams on the left wing, but Spain could now be without both players. Williams is experiencing groin pain, and if it turns out to be a muscle tear, he too could be sidelined for the rest of the competition. Liverpool winger Victor Munoz is still recovering from his own fitness problems, leaving Ferran Torres and Baena as the remaining options for that position – neither of whom are natural fits for the role.