MADRID, Oct. 3 (Xinhua) -- Spain national team coach Luis de la Fuente on Friday made the controversial decision to call up FC Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal into his squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifying games against Georgia and Bulgaria.
De la Fuente made his decision despite Lamal only playing 31 minutes of last weekend's 2-1 win at home to Real Sociedad and against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday after returning injured from the last international break in September.
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick expressed his annoyance a month ago at Yamal's injury, suggesting De la Fuente shouldn't have played him when he wasn't fully fit.
De la Fuente defended his decision, saying "we have two very big games in which we are playing for a place at the World Cup and that is very important."
"It seems they are in the background and we are talking about Flick, but we are looking to qualify for the World Cup and nothing else matters," he said.
However, the Spain coach didn't call up Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams, who hasn't played a minute since his injury in the last international break, while he has also rested PSG midfielder Fabian Ruiz, arguing Ruiz needed a break after also playing in the Club World Cup.
De la Fuente has several other players out through injury, with Real Madrid right-back Dani Carvajal sidelined with a calf strain, while Barcelona duo Gavi and Fermin Lopez are also out, allowing the coach to recall Atletico Madrid trio, Alex Baena, Marcos Llorente and Pablo Barrios, along with Porto striker Samu.
Spain plays Georgia in Elche on October 11 and hosts Bulgaria in Valladolid three days later. De la Fuente's side won 3-0 away to Bulgaria and followed that with a 6-0 triumph away to Türkiye in September.
Full squad:
Goalkeepers: Unai Simon, David Raba, Alex Remino.
Defenders: Dani Vivian, Alex Grimaldo, Marc Cucurella, Pau Cubarsi, Robin Le Normand, Marcos Llorente, Pedro Porro, Dean Huijsen.
Midfielders: Rodrigo Hernandez, Dani Olmo, Mikel Merino, Martin Zubimendi, Aleix Garcia, Pedri, Alex Baena, Pablo Barrios.
Forwards: Mikel Oyarzabal, Ferran Torres, Yeremy Pino, Lamine Yamal, Samu, Jorge de Frutos, Jesus Rodriguez. ■
