The first list of Luis de la Fuente as Spanish coach generated expectation. The premiere of a new tenant on the bench of La Roja, the absence of big stars and the need to start a new project after the failure in the World Cup in Qatar invited a small revolution and the coach from La Rioja responded to the pools by giving return to the middle of the call.
Among the 26 footballers mentioned, only twelve repeat the controversial list of Luis Enrique for the World Cup in Qatar if Gayà is taken into account, who returned without making his debut in the tournament due to injury, and his replacement, the Barça player Balde. Along the way, players with specific weight fall like Jordi Alba or Koke, two of the veterans of the previous stage along with Busquets, who announced his farewell as an international after the World Cup.
De la Fuente draws fresh blood with three rookies who have broken down the doors of La Roja based on remarkable performance. They are the Osasuna center-back David García, the Real Sociedad midfielder Martín Zubimendi and the Espanyol striker Joselu Mato. Three premieres for three decisive positions, which make up the backbone of a team.
However, despite the discarding of Sergio Ramos from the start, the Haro coach does not seem to have looked excessively at the age of his squad, as he recovers two veterans such as Iago Aspas and Nacho. In this way, he intends to provide experience to a group of players who will have to secure the ticket for next year’s Euro Cup smoothly and face the final four of the League of Nations in June with enthusiasm.
The goal is the most stable position, since the return of Kepa Arrizabalaga, who has regained his undisputed status at Chelsea, makes up for the absence of Unai Simón due to his physical problems. The continuity of the two Premier goalkeepers, Robert Sánchez and David Raya, who had a clear signature with Luis Enrique and continue ahead of other reasonable options such as the realist Álex Remiro, is surprising.
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There is also some continuity on the sides, with the call of Tottenham’s right-hander Pedro Porro and what seems like an end to the stage for two men hardened in a thousand battles such as Jordi Alba and César Azpilicueta. However, the revolution is practically total in the list of central defenders, that position that Luis Enrique considered very well covered despite the doubts of the environment and that De la Fuente refreshes with the call of Nacho, David García and Iñigo Martínez instead of Pau Torres, Eric Garcia, and Hugo Guillamon. Only Aymeric Laporte survives, as important in La Roja as residual in Manchester City this season.
A high-level midfielder
The center of the field, which is without a doubt the part of the field where the Spanish team has more and better resources, continues to pass through the batons of the versatile Rodri, the dynamic Gavi and the virtuoso Pedri, who nevertheless falls from the ready for some physical discomfort that will separate him from the classic on Sunday and the first FIFA window of the year. They are joined by Zubimendi, the midfielder of the future but also of the present, with three expected returns: Fabián Ruiz, Mikel Merino and Dani Ceballos.
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Lastly, on the offensive side, classics from the previous stage remain, such as Álvaro Morata, Gerard Moreno, who was weighed down by physical problems along with Luis Enrique, Dani Olmo, the youngsters Nico Williams and Bryan Gil, as well as Mikel Oyarzabal, already in full force. performance after his severe cruciate ligament injury. Joselu, the best national scorer this season in the First Division and a guarantee in the air, makes his debut, and the long-awaited return of Iago Aspas finally takes place, reviled by the previous coach and who at 35 is still the watchword of Celta.
The internationals will be concentrated from Monday at the Ciudad del Fútbol de Las Rozas, where Luis de la Fuente will make his debut on the pitch with his mind set on his debut against Norway at La Rosaleda on Saturday the 25th. Haaland, Odegaard and company will be a demanding first touchstone on the road to the Eurocup in Germany 2024, before the duel against Scotland at Hampden Park on Tuesday 28.
-The 26 summoned:
Goalkeepers: Kepa Arrizabalaga (Chelsea), Robert Sánchez (Brighton) and David Raya (Brentford).
Defenders: Gayà (Valencia), Balde (Barcelona), Laporte (Manchester City), Iñigo Martínez (Athletic), David García (Osasuna), Pedro Porro (Tottenham), Nacho and Carvajal (Real Madrid).
Midfielders: Rodri (Manchester City), Zubimendi, Merino (Real Sociedad), Gavi (Barcelona), Fabián Ruiz (PSG) and Ceballos (Real Madrid).
Forwards: Morata (Atlético), Dani Olmo (Leipzig), Nico Williams (Athletic), Bryan Gil (Sevilla), Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Iago Aspas (Celta), Joselu (Espanyol) and Gerard Moreno (Villarreal).