Spain’s coach Luis de la Fuente has expressed confidence that talisman winger Lamine Yamal will be fit for the World Cup opener. De la Fuente said on Wednesday that Yamal will not play in Thursday’s warmup match against Iraq in A Coruña.

However, he expects the Barcelona attacking midfielder to be part of the team’s squad for the opening game against Cape Verde on June 15th.

“If nothing changes, he could be ready to play on June 15,” De la Fuente said. “It doesn’t mean that for sure he will play, we’ll see. Maybe a few minutes, maybe just practice so he can improve his condition for the second match. We will have to evaluate.”

Yamal injured his left hamstring while converting a penalty kick for Barcelona in a Spanish league match on April 22. The Barcelona star said he was scared of missing the World Cup but thankfully the injury was not too serious.

De la Fuente further added the two other injured players in the squad — Nico Williams and Víctor Muñoz — also won’t play on Wednesday.

“We are all excited to get started and try to do well at the tournament,” De la Fuente said.

After starting their campaign against Cape Verde in Group H, Spain will face Saudi Arabia on June 21 in Atlanta and Uruguay on June 26 in Guadalajara.

On the other hand, previous editions runners-up France’s head coach Didier Deschamps has played down fitness of center back William Saliba ahead of the FIFA World Cup.

“William is fine and will be managed. If he had needed to play tomorrow, he would have played,” Deschamps told a news conference.

Asked if he already has an XI in mind for their first match of the tournament, Deschamps said: “Of course I do, yes. But you never know. There will be two matches between now and then, things can happen.

Les Bleus will begin their World Cup campaign against Senegal on June 16.