Six La Roja footballers have repeated ownership in the three eleven that Luis Enrique has opted for in Qatar to face Costa Rica, Germany and Japan: Unai Simón in goal, Rodri as center back, Busquets, Pedri and Gavi in midfield and Dani Olmo as a winger on the left wing. In the rest of the positions there have been variations, some important, and there are five outfield players from the team who have not yet appeared in this World Cup: in addition to the goalkeepers Robert Sánchez and David Raya, Eric García, Guillamón, Marcos have not jumped onto the pitch Llorente, Sarabia and Yeremy Pino. “There will be someone who does not play for a minute, this is so,” the Asturian coach acknowledged. This is, line by line, the Spain of the group stage of the tournament, the one that is already thinking about the round of 16 tie against Morocco on Tuesday. Unai Simón goal, untouchable The Athletic goalkeeper seems untouchable. Luis Enrique’s confidence in him is full and he praises his virtues as soon as he has the opportunity. He says that the rojiblanco fits perfectly with La Roja’s style of play. Against Costa Rica he was not seen because the Ticos did not arrive even once. Against the Germans he had two magnificent interventions, one of them preceded by a misfire with his foot. The coach asks him to be one more in circulation and these situations can occur. Against Japan, perhaps in the first goal he gave the feeling that he could do something more. Laterals Leading role of the four It does not seem that the coach has a predilection for one or the other because they have all enjoyed important minutes during the competition. On the right wing, César Azpilicueta – now touched by a blow – started against the Ticos and the Japanese and Carvajal, against the Teutons. Jordi Alba seemed the lord and master of the left wing, where he has performed at a very high level, but the coach chose to give ownership against the fast Asians to Balde, recalled from the sub’21 after the injury of the Valencian player Gayá, It was not fine the young footballer of Barcelona. Center-backs Rodri, a guy for everything The versatile Manchester City footballer has been one of Luis Enrique’s great novelties in the Qatar event. Not because of his ownership, but because he has played all three games as a central defender. He was accompanied by Laporte for the first two matches, a fixture in the backbone of the team who, however, left his place for Pau Torres against Japan, probably to dose him. Eric García, one of the Gijón coach’s right eyes, and Guillamón, limping at the start of the concentration, have not yet made their debut in the World Cup. The axis of the Busquets system, the compass “He is our Nadal, there is no footballer like him for the game we play,” Luis Enrique stressed about Sergio Busquets when he announced the list of those chosen for the Qatar event. Spain revolves around its great captain, both on and off the pitch in this new role granted by stripes and the experience of having previously played in three other World Cups. There was speculation that he rested against Japan to protect him because he had a yellow card. “There is nothing to protect,” advanced the technician. It’s his compass. The midfield The Pedri-Gavi couple The two pearls of Spanish football are Busquets’ companions in midfield. Like the captain, they still haven’t gotten out of the starting position in Doha. They share space but are different. Pedri is the absolute class, the talent to have the ball and give it to his teammates always ahead. Gavi is a force of nature that performs well in attack when La Roja manages to break the line of pressure and that is a stronghold in defense when the opponents try to advance through their zone. It is his first World Cup and it seems that several have played. Carlos Soler and Koke have had minutes, while Marcos Llorente is still waiting for his chance. The O Morata attack or the ‘false 9’ Luis Enrique has alternated the two schemes. Morata came off the bench against Costa Rica and Germany – against the Teutons his performance was decisive – and he started against Japan. If the Atlético striker is not on the field, Asensio acts as a ‘false 9’. Olmo is a fixture on the right wing and on the left the role has fluctuated. Ferran Torres started in eleven but against the Asians his position was occupied by Nico Williams, who was not very successful. Ansu Fati, who made the list at the last minute, made his World Cup debut against the Japanese, while Sarabia and Yéremy Pino remain unpublished in Qatar
