Forgotten Real Madrid academy ace could help Lamine Yamal and brilliant Spain live up to favourites tag

Spain’s hopes for a second star above their crest might not rest solely on the shoulders of youngsters Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams.

Spain are one of the favourites in North America at the World Cup thanks to their wonderkids and a versatile squad but Osasuna winger Victor Munoz isn’t just there to make up the numbers.

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Luis de la Fuente’s side dominated the Euros in 2024 with their precise and fast-paced attack.

Williams and Yamal combined for three goals and five assists during the campaign and proved age was merely a number at 21 and 16 respectively.

However, as the international tournament commences, both players are injury doubts for La Roja’s opening fixtures as they recover from hamstring issues.

The one to watch

Munoz was included in La Roja’s 26-man squad after his breakthrough season at the Navarrese club, scoring seven goals this season across all competitions.

Prior to his move, the 22-year-old spent the majority of his youth career at Real Madrid, making his senior debut as a substitute for Vinicius Junior in El Clasico.

However, last summer he signed a five-year contract with Osasuna for €5million (£4.3m), yet Los Blancos insisted on a buy-back clause worth just €8million (£6.9m).

He is regarded as one of the fastest players in LaLiga and could make a difference in clashes which Barcelona superstar Yamal is unable to start.

Newcastle are understood to be in advanced talks to sign Munoz as a replacement for Anthony Gordon, who joined Barcelona.

talkSPORT’s European football expert, Andy Brassell said: “Victor Munoz, I think he’s really one to watch for Spain in this World Cup.

“He’s had a great season with Osasuna. He turns 23 the day before the semi-finals start. So still pretty young and as we’ve seen with Lamine Yamal, Spain loves a tournament birthday to motivate them.

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“Munoz is small, explosive from the left wing, can score as well as assist. And he’s got such a high ceiling.

“Now, Real Madrid, for whom he played actually a couple of substitute appearances in the Club World Cup going past last summer, they’ve got an option to buy him back this summer for a fairly low fee.

“Which I think they might do, whether they bring him back into the squad or use him as collateral, I think he’s open to conjecture.

“But Munoz had a really great start when he was introduced to the national team as well and scored his first goal on debut.”

Strengths and weaknesses

Yamal will celebrate his 19th birthday on the eve of the semi-finals, and with Spain hopefully reaching that stage, they will hope their superstar will be fit to emerge victorious.

De la Fuente has trusted various youngsters in his group, including Barcelona‘s centre-back Pau Cubarsi who is also only 19.

With youth on their side, it may give La Roja an edge however, it might mean they have a side slightly inexperienced at a major tournament.

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Brassell added: ” Think bearing in mind the fact that Lamine Yamal is coming back from injury and might not even make the start of the World Cup, that Nico Williams has had an up and down season in terms of fitness.

“Munoz might get a little bit of bang off the bench and maybe even might start in the group.

“And there are very few players that Spain are going to arrive with that people are going to know nothing about.

“I think he’s going to be one of those. And I think he’ll really surprise some people.

The No.1 position

It’s a good kind of headache for the European champions to have, but De la Fuente has a key decision to make over who is going to be his main goalkeeper for the tournament.

Premier League winner David Raya and Barca’s Joan Garcia are pushing hard for Unai Simon’s spot.

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The Arsenal keeper kept 19 clean sheets last season, compared to Simon’s six for Athletic Bilbao.

On the other hand, Garcia has taken LaLiga by storm since moving to Barcelona, making his pass accuracy crucial to his game at 88 per cent, which is perfect for Spain’s possession style.

However, Simon is the loyal pick who is a veteran leader and holds 57 caps for his country.

Brassell said: “Unai Simon will start this World Cup. Whether he should, I think, is a totally different question because you could argue not just David Raya, but Joan Garcia of Barcelona are both better than him.

“I think when you look at international coaches in general, they tend to be quite conservative.

“They stick with guys that they know, unless the bottom drops out of someone’s club form, that they often get stuck with.

“I think if you look at Spain’s weaknesses, and they’re not a lot, Unai Simon could be one of them because, on his day, he’s an unbelievable goalkeeper.

“But he’s also got a mistake in him, certainly in terms of possession and playing the ball out where he seems to switch off a little bit sometimes. So maybe that’s a place where Spain could be found.

“If they’re not the favourite, they’re pretty close.”

He summarised how Spain look strongest when they play as a unit: “I think what is so convincing about Spain is the fact that it’s actually not really a team of superstars. It’s a team of brilliant players.

“But I think you look at them and if they lose a player, if they lose a Dani Olmo through injury, if they even lose a Lamine Yamal through injury, they’ve got the cover. They find the way to cover in some way or another.

“I think wherever they are, there’s such an understanding of what they’re trying to do.

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“They’re very, very well coached by Luis de la Fuente, who knew a load of these players coming through the Under-21s in the first place, that you feel they’re not as much of a hostage to fortune in terms of form and fitness.

“Of course, a lot of these players will probably either not be able to play or their level will drop a little bit at the end of a really long season.

“I just feel from Spain’s perspective, they’re not as likely to be fettered by that as other teams.”

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