League of Nations
The Spanish coach recovers Pedri, injured in the last window, leaves Ansu Fati out of the squad for the matches against Switzerland and Portugal and rules out the return of Iago Aspas and Sergio Ramos
From the mountains of Madrid and by bicycle, accompanied by Aitor Unzué, member of the technical staff of the absolute Spanish team and son of Juan Carlos Unzué. This is how Luis Enrique provided his squad list for the League of Nations matches against Switzerland and Portugal. Very much in his style, in full physical effort and under inclement weather conditions, as if it were the endless debates and criticisms that his decisions arouse, the Asturian coach announced a list of players marked by continuity.
This call had its crumb, because it serves to draw weighty conclusions in the run-up to the World Cup in Qatar, the next commitment once this group stage of the League of Nations has been resolved in which Spain aspires to repeat its presence in the final four of the June 2023. The truth is that there were hardly any surprises, beyond the absence of Ansu Fati.
Lucho continues to bet on a trio of goalkeepers – Unai Simón, Robert Sánchez and David Raya – who, in his own words, he “loves”. For the defense he rules out a hypothetical return of Sergio Ramos and together with the regulars Eric García, Pau Torres and Diego Llorente he recruits Hugo Guillamón in the center of the defense in the absence of the injured Laporte. In the right-handed lane Carvajal and Azpilicueta remain, but for the left-handed, in addition to Jordi Alba, he recovers Gayà instead of Marcos Alonso.
The Asturian coach is committed to two novelties in attack, with the presence of Nico Williams and Borja Iglesias as alternatives to Ansu Fati’s poor form, Gerard Moreno’s injury and the strange situation of Raúl de Tomás, who will not be able to play until January after his convulsive departure from Espanyol towards Rayo Vallecano. Neither is Dani Olmo due to his physical problems, but the offensive plot has the many possibilities offered by players as different as Sarabia, Yéremy Pino, Asensio or Ferran Torres.
It has been difficult for the Betis striker to knock down the door of the Spanish team, which he arrives at at the age of 29, but he has done so through the four goals and an assist that he adds in five league games. The ability to perform is not the only guarantee of a striker with physical presence and ability both to lower the ball and play with his back to the goal as well as to associate with his teammates. Meanwhile, with the Athletic winger, Luis Enrique is looking for an overflow on the wing, the main quality of the youngest of the Williams, but also the possibility of playing inside. His start to the season has not only served to make him indisputable for Valverde, but also to attract the attention of the coach.
Continuity
Especially striking is Luis Enrique’s confidence in Jordi Alba despite his lack of playing time at Xavi’s Barça, something that also happens with Asensio. Regarding the Balearic, for the coach the performance with Spain in the last international window of June has weighed much more than his current precarious situation in Madrid. Ferran Torres, another player whose specific weight as a Barça player has declined to the benefit of Raphinha or Dembélé, remains among the chosen ones, ample proof that with this coach, the important thing is what happens in the context of the national team.
In addition to the immovable goal, the center of the field is the most consolidated line in La Roja. Only a change in the core and it was sung, because it is the return of an indisputable like Pedri. The Canarian replaces Thiago Alcántara and together with Gavi is called to form the pair of interiors of Spain in a midfield with a clear Barça flavor if Busquets maintains his hierarchy over Rodri, the other midfielder of reference. The recently signed by PSG Carlos Soler and wild card Marcos Llorente also retain their international status.
The list of 25 summoned:
Goalkeepers:
Unai Simón, Robert Sánchez and David Raya.Defenses:
Carvajal, Azpilicueta, Pau Torres, Eric García, Diego Llorente, Guillamón, Jordi Alba and Gayà.Midfielders:
Busquets, Rodri, Pedri, Gavi, Koke, Carlos Soler and Marcos Llorente.Forwards:
Sarabia, Nico Williams, Yéremy Pino, Morata, Borja Iglesias, Asensio and Ferran Torres.
Amman International Stadium. /
Jordan, last test before the World Cup
The Spanish team already knows who will be its last rival before the start of the World Cup against Costa Rica on November 23. Six days before the World Cup debut, La Roja will face off against an unprecedented opponent, Jordan. The friendly match will be played from 8:45 p.m. at the Amman International Stadium in Amman, the Jordanian capital, from where the team led by Luis Enrique will travel to Doha, where it will have its headquarters in the facilities of the University of Qatar.
