1 week ago
Spain will spell to nan World Cup without a azygous Real Madrid subordinate for nan first clip successful their history arsenic Luis de la Fuente named his 26-man squad for this summer’s tournament.
While Real stars specified arsenic Dean Huijsen, Dani Carvajal and Gonzalo García miss out, De la Fuente included Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, who tore his near hamstring connected 22 April and missed nan remainder of his club’s La Liga campaign.
Previous reports said nan 18-year-old could miss Spain’s World Cup opener but De la Fuente said he had “no doubt” astir nan readiness of nan forwards and others – including Nico Williams and Mikel Merino – who are dealing pinch fittingness concerns.
“We’re very calm,” De la Fuente said. “I deliberation that if location are nary setbacks, we tin almost person everyone disposable from nan first game. The expert and fittingness coach person been visiting nan clubs and talking to them. We’ve been coordinating ... I person nary uncertainty they’ll beryllium fresh for nan first game, and if not, they’ll beryllium fresh for nan second.“
De la Fuente announced his squad astatine an arena successful Madrid connected Monday, notably leaving retired Huijsen, Carvajal and García. Also absent is nan injured Barcelona midfielder Fermín López arsenic good arsenic nan Como guardant Álvaro Morata, who captained Spain erstwhile they won nan European title successful 2024.
“It’s difficult,” De la Fuente said of leaving players out. “We deliberation astir each imaginable script that tin hap successful games pinch our opponents, and their characteristics ... We’ve chosen these 26. I deliberation we’ve covered nan needs of nan squad ... I don’t look astatine whether they play for 1 squad aliases another.”
Spain, who are classed No 2 successful nan world down France, are successful Group H pinch Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay. They unfastened their run against Cape Verde connected 15 June successful Atlanta earlier playing Saudi Arabia connected 21 June, besides successful Atlanta. They decorativeness their group shape successful Mexico, erstwhile they look Uruguay connected 26 June successful Guadalajara.
The 2010 World Cup champions will lukewarm up for nan title pinch friendlies against Iraq and Peru. They expect to amended connected their capacity astatine nan 2022 World Cup, erstwhile they mislaid to Morocco successful nan information of 16.
Spain World Cup squad
Goalkeepers: Unai Simón (Athletic Club), David Raya (Arsenal), Joan García (Barcelona)
Defenders: Marc Cucurella (Chelsea), Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona), Aymeric Laporte (Athletic Club), Álejandro Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen), Pedro Porro (Tottenham), Eric García (Barcelona), Marcos Llorente (Atlético Madrid), Marc Pubill (Atlético Madrid)
Midfielders: Gavi (Barcelona), Rodri (Manchester City), Pedri (Barcelona), Martín Zubimendi (Arsenal), Fabián Ruiz (PSG), Álex Baena (Atlético Madrid), Mikel Merino (Arsenal)
Forwards: Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), Nico Williams (Athletic Club), Dani Olmo (Barcelona), Ferran Torres (Barcelona), Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Yéremy Pino (Crystal Palace), Borja Iglesias (Celta Vigo), Víctor Muñoz (Osasuna)
