The Spanish national team started their World Cup campaign with a disappointing loss to Cape Verde. The poor performance in Atlanta has raised concerns within the team. The best version of La Roja is still pending the physical recovery of several key players. Luis de la Fuente opted for players who arrived at the tournament between band-aids and the debut confirmed that the selection needs to urgently get its injured and out-of-form players in shape if it wants to aspire to something important. The two starting wingers, Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, one of the substitutes, Víctor Muñoz, and their midfielder with the most goals, Mikel Merino, have recently received medical clearance, all three in the past few days. Additionally, Rodri, the team's brain, and Gavi arrived from complicated courses with injuries that even put their presence in the tournament in doubt at some point. The situation took a worrying turn yesterday. Mikel Merino, who entered the field with 19 minutes remaining, withdrew with a slight limp and did not train at Baylor School. Will he be facing Saudi Arabia on Sunday in Atlanta? The Navarro said not to worry. 'I didn't train due to load management. Other days I worked a lot to come from where I came from and this time it was a day to stay inside,' he said in the press room set up on the tennis courts of this Tennessee college. The coach insisted the day before the match that everyone had medical clearance and was in competition condition. He announced that they would not be starters, but that Lamine and Nico would enter 'if the game demanded it.' The game demanded it already at halftime. Spain needed offensive solutions against a retracted and comfortable Cabo Verde defending near their area. The game required precisely the qualities of Nico and Lamine, speed, overdrive, and the ability to generate advantages in one-on-one situations. However, De la Fuente delayed their entry as much as possible. Lamine Yamal played only 19 minutes and Nico Williams entered when there were only 5 minutes left. Two testimonial appearances that fuel the impression that both are still far from being 100%. 'We are building the best physical condition for them. They are improving, no doubt,' explained De la Fuente after the match. Lamine had not played since April 22 due to a muscle tear. Nico was out since May 10 due to a muscle injury that added to a season conditioned by pubic problems that had already forced him to stop for two months. The most evident image left by the match was the huge difference between the Spain with Lamine Yamal and the Spain without him. Even far from his best physical condition, the Barcelona winger shook up the match. His mere presence forced the Cape Verde coach to place up to three players pending his movements, freeing up spaces in the opposite sector. 'Lamine at 50% has shaken the team,' foreign journalists summarized. The situation is complicated, but not impossible. La Roja has the opportunity to recover its key players and return to being the dominant team we all know.