Spain's Injury Crisis
Spain fears Yeremy Pino's World Cup campaign over due to suspected broken collarbone
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Spain winger Yeremy Pino is likely done for the rest of the 2026 World Cup after playing through a suspected broken collarbone during Friday's 1-0 win over Uruguay, according to BBC. Coach Luis de la Fuente confirmed Pino gutted out the final minutes of the match after the injury — calling it a "heroic effort" — but full scans on Saturday will likely seal his fate.
Worse still, star winger Nico Williams finished the Uruguay match reporting "physical discomfort" in his thigh, raising fears he too could miss the knockout stage, Reuters reported. If both are ruled out, FIFA rules mean Spain cannot call up replacements — leaving the reigning Euro 2024 champions dangerously short of attacking options.
Pino Played On with a Broken Bone
Pino entered the match in the 66th minute as a substitute for Alex Baena. He then sustained the collarbone injury but kept playing. De la Fuente said Pino almost certainly has a fracture, BBC reported. A broken collarbone typically takes 6 to 12 weeks to heal — well beyond the World Cup's end.
Medical experts told COPE that a collarbone fracture is "non-negotiable" in a contact sport. There is also a secondary groin concern flagged alongside the collarbone, OneFootball reported. Scans scheduled for Saturday will give Spain's medical staff a final answer before the Round of 32.
Spain's Winger Crisis Started Before the Tournament
This is not a sudden problem. Lamine Yamal hurt his left hamstring in April. Nico Williams strained his hamstring in May. Victor Muñoz — who just signed a €40 million deal with Liverpool — has been sidelined all group stage with a muscle injury, The Guardian reported. All three were included in the final 26-man squad despite fitness doubts.
Spain entered the tournament with just four specialist wingers. Three are now injured or managing relapses, RotoWire noted. Yamal has recovered enough to start and score, but Williams and Muñoz remain serious doubts. That leaves Ferran Torres as the only fit wide option off the bench — a player who drew widespread criticism after missing an open-net chance against Uruguay, according to Tribuna.com.
FIFA Rules Mean Spain Is Stuck with 23 Players
Under FIFA 2026 rules, teams could only replace injured players up to 24 hours before their first match. Spain's opener against Cape Verde was June 15. That window is long closed. Unlike goalkeepers — who can be swapped out for medical reasons at any time — outfield players cannot be replaced once the tournament starts, Athlon Sports reported.
If Pino, Williams, and Muñoz are all unavailable, Spain will effectively have just 23 active outfield players left from their original 26-man roster. De la Fuente says he has "total confidence" in the squad's depth, The Star reported. But analysts point out that depth at winger is the one area where Spain simply has no cover.
Without Wide Runners, Spain's Style Is Under Threat
Spain's 4-3-3 system under De la Fuente depends on fast wingers stretching defenses. Without Pino and Williams, midfielders like Dani Olmo, Gavi, or Alex Baena may be forced into wide roles they are not built for, The Guardian noted. Spain could also shift to a 4-2-3-1 to protect Yamal and preserve possession rather than attacking vertically.
Spain still topped Group H with a 34-match unbeaten run intact, Reuters reported. Their xG advantage over Uruguay was 0.86 to 0.20, showing they controlled the game. But their likely Round of 32 opponents — Austria or Algeria — will know Spain's flanks are exposed. A high-press approach could exploit the lack of recovery pace left on Spain's wings, The New York Times reported.
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