Spain's 42-game unbeaten run hits Prague without six regulars and two starters on a yellow

Spain play Czechia in Prague on Thursday already through to the Nations League quarterfinals, but with plenty still on the line. The world champions are unbeaten in 42 matches inside 90 minutes, with 33 wins and nine draws, according to Goal, and Luis de la Fuente has to protect that run at the Epet Arena (2:45 p.m. ET) without six of his regulars.

Lamine Yamal stayed in Barcelona with the knee knock he picked up against Atlético Madrid, and Mikel Oyarzabal has the flu. Both are expected to join the squad for Sunday's game against England in Madrid. Rodri and Dani Olmo are injured, as are Ander Barrenetxea and Eric García, and Spanish broadcaster RTVE reported that Nico Williams and Aymeric Laporte are also unavailable for Prague despite being in the squad.

That leaves a familiar World Cup final hero up front. Ferran Torres, who scored against Argentina in July, is expected to lead the line, with Álex Baena and Fermín López behind him. In midfield, De la Fuente can lean on Pedri with Fabián Ruiz, Mikel Zubimendi or Pablo Barrios, back in the squad after standing out for Atlético at the weekend.

The bigger risk may be Sunday, not Thursday. Baena and Fermín are each one booking away from a suspension that would rule them out against England, Sporting News and Sports Mole reported, and both are expected to start anyway. Spain have not wrapped up first place in the group, and the England game at the Metropolitano is the one that decides it.

That puts De la Fuente in an awkward spot. Fermín is in form, with a double for Barcelona in the win at Atlético, and with Yamal and Nico out he is one of the few creative players available. Benching him in Prague protects him for England; starting him, as expected, gambles that he gets through without a caution.

Czechia, coached by former Spain under-21 boss Santi Denia, are last in the group with four losses in four games and have lost five straight in all competitions, including 3-0 to England and 3-1 to Spain in Oviedo in October. They are also short-handed, with Robin Hranáč, Pavel Šulc, Adam Karabec and three others injured and Michal Sadílek suspended, while Ladislav Krejčí returns from a ban.

Spain have scored after the 85th minute in each of their last three games, so this streak has survived on late goals before. In Prague, the real result could be measured on Sunday: whether De la Fuente arrives at the Metropolitano with his run intact and Baena and Fermín still eligible.