At 10:02 a.m. on Monday, June 9, 2025, Vietnam time, a new controversy rocked the Spanish national team following their painful defeat to Portugal in the UEFA Nations League final. The match, which ended in a 2-2 draw after 120 minutes and was decided by penalties with a score of 5-3 in favor of Portugal, left Spain empty-handed, and frustration erupted in the locker room. Lamine Yamal, FC Barcelona’s 17-year-old star, caused a stir by demanding that coach Luis de la Fuente immediately remove three players, bluntly declaring: “He doesn’t deserve to be on the field.” This explosive statement unleashed a whirlwind of reactions among fans, media, and the squad itself.

The match, played last night at Lisbon’s Estadio da Luz, was an intense duel, with Yamal scoring one of Spain’s goals, temporarily leveling the score. However, the debacle came in the penalty shootout, where Álvaro Morata missed his shot critically, allowing Diogo Costa to save it and seal the Portuguese victory. Morata’s performance, who was criticized for his weak penalty, appears to be the trigger for Yamal’s fury. Although he didn’t name any names, speculation points to Morata, along with others such as Dani Olmo and Rodri, as possible targets of his lawsuit, due to their perceived insufficient performance in the crucial match.

Luis de la Fuente, known for his conciliatory approach, now finds himself in a delicate position. In a brief post-match statement, the coach avoided responding directly to Yamal, simply saying: “We are a team and we accept defeat together.” However, the demands of the young talent, seen as the future of Spain, challenge De la Fuente’s authority and could force significant adjustments before the upcoming international commitments. Fans are divided: some praise Yamal’s courage in highlighting internal problems, while others criticize him for his immaturity in publicly questioning veteran teammates.

The impact of this controversy transcends the locker room. On social media, hashtags like #YamalExige and #MorataFuera dominate the trending topics, with thousands of comments debating the team’s direction. Some see Yamal as an emerging leader, while others fear his outburst could damage the group’s cohesion. Morata’s penalty miss, combined with Yamal’s words, has intensified criticism of the forward, who was already facing pressure for his inconsistency. With the club season about to begin, De la Fuente must manage this crisis carefully to avoid a bigger schism in the national team. Can Yamal justify his stance with future performances, or was this a youthful impulsive moment? Only time will tell.

At 10:02 a.m. on Monday, June 9, 2025, Vietnam time, a new controversy rocked the Spanish national team following their painful defeat to Portugal in the UEFA Nations League final. The match, which ended in a 2-2 draw after 120 minutes and was decided by penalties with a score of 5-3 in favor of Portugal, left Spain empty-handed, and frustration erupted in the locker room. Lamine Yamal, FC Barcelona’s 17-year-old star, caused a stir by demanding that coach Luis de la Fuente immediately remove three players, bluntly declaring: “He doesn’t deserve to be on the field.” This explosive statement unleashed a whirlwind of reactions among fans, media, and the squad itself.

The match, played last night at Lisbon’s Estadio da Luz, was an intense duel, with Yamal scoring one of Spain’s goals, temporarily leveling the score. However, the debacle came in the penalty shootout, where Álvaro Morata missed his shot critically, allowing Diogo Costa to save it and seal the Portuguese victory. Morata’s performance, who was criticized for his weak penalty, appears to be the trigger for Yamal’s fury. Although he didn’t name any names, speculation points to Morata, along with others such as Dani Olmo and Rodri, as possible targets of his lawsuit, due to their perceived insufficient performance in the crucial match.

Luis de la Fuente, known for his conciliatory approach, now finds himself in a delicate position. In a brief post-match statement, the coach avoided responding directly to Yamal, simply saying: “We are a team and we accept defeat together.” However, the demands of the young talent, seen as the future of Spain, challenge De la Fuente’s authority and could force significant adjustments before the upcoming international commitments. Fans are divided: some praise Yamal’s courage in highlighting internal problems, while others criticize him for his immaturity in publicly questioning veteran teammates.

The impact of this controversy transcends the locker room. On social media, hashtags like #YamalExige and #MorataFuera dominate the trending topics, with thousands of comments debating the team’s direction. Some see Yamal as an emerging leader, while others fear his outburst could damage the group’s cohesion. Morata’s penalty miss, combined with Yamal’s words, has intensified criticism of the forward, who was already facing pressure for his inconsistency. With the club season about to begin, De la Fuente must manage this crisis carefully to avoid a bigger schism in the national team. Can Yamal justify his stance with future performances, or was this a youthful impulsive moment? Only time will tell.