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A heartwarming moment capturing Gavi’s playful prank on Lamine Yamal was caught on camera amid Spain’s preparations for their opening match at the 2026 World Cup.

The light-hearted atmosphere within Spain’s camp, highlighted by Gavi’s mischief toward Yamal, demonstrates the successful leadership of Luis de la Fuente as the team’s manager.

More than just a coach, Luis de la Fuente, aged 64, has served as a “shield” for his players, protecting them from intense media scrutiny during the 2026 World Cup.

This perspective was shared by Football Enthusiast Gigih in the Super Taktik podcast titled “Predictions for 2026 World Cup Groups G-L: The Groups of Contenders” held at the Tribunnews Solo office in Karanganyar, Central Java.

“De la Fuente is known as a coach who prioritises the dressing room environment. It’s his duty to ensure that young players like Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams can blend seamlessly with senior figures such as Rodri and Fabian Ruiz,” analysed Gigih.

“The sense of unity under De la Fuente is one of the strongest since Vicente del Bosque’s era. Spanish players face enormous media pressure, and De la Fuente’s job is to keep the team spirit intact when under that pressure. That’s the key,” added Gigih, who is also a fan of English club Wigan Athletic.

Evidence of De la Fuente’s success in shielding his players from media pressure, especially from domestic outlets, is reflected in the strong camaraderie within the squad.

It’s widely recognised that Spain’s 2026 World Cup squad is largely composed of players from LaLiga side Barcelona, with no representatives from Real Madrid.

This has allowed the young Barcelona-dominated roster to build natural chemistry without awkwardness or division.

Beyond team dynamics, as Gigih explained, De la Fuente has fulfilled his core responsibility by keeping his players focused and unaffected by external distractions.

Gavi’s Playful Moment with Lamine Yamal

One of the joyful scenes showing Spain’s relaxed mindset under minimal media pressure came from Gavi’s playful act toward his Barcelona teammate Lamine Yamal.

A spontaneous moment featuring Spain’s two young stars, Yamal and Gavi, caught public attention after newspaper Diario AS shared it on Sunday, 14 June.

The video captured a cheerful atmosphere aboard the flight carrying the Spanish national team to the United States for the 2026 World Cup.

In the clip, Gavi was seen trying to prank Yamal by secretly recording him while he was about to rest.

However, the plan did not go as intended, as Yamal quickly noticed the camera.

Realising he had been caught, Gavi appeared flustered and hurriedly tried to hide his phone.

Their interaction once again reflected the strong bond among Spain’s young talents.

Beyond their performances on the field, Yamal and Gavi often draw media attention for their close friendship off the pitch, a recurring theme in Spanish coverage leading up to the 2026 World Cup.

Spain are set to begin their 2026 World Cup campaign against Cape Verde on Monday night, 15 June (local time). They will then face Saudi Arabia on 21 June and Uruguay on 27 June.

(Tribunnews.com/Giri)