With the March friendly window over, Luis de la Fuente is closing his list that is open in several positions. Today the line that generates the most doubts is the defense, where the full-backs are not yet closed and in the central position there are still two to settle, if he finally takes four defenders. Up front, the midfield is the most stable line, with four untouchable midfielders and a fifth who is almost guaranteed. In the three-quarter line, where midfielders and wingers will line up, there are four fixed players and a position or two in the air. While at the top the two forwards have their position and the third forward will be one of the playmakers playing as a false 9 occasionally to give him other options.
The goal, closed
Starting with the goal, the three goalkeepers are determined, barring injury or major circumstance. Unai Simon He is the starting goalkeeper of De La Fuente, with David Raya one step behind and Alex Remiro completing the triplet. Kepa, a goalkeeper whom de Haro likes, is left out after losing the starting position at Real Madrid against Lunin.
Many doubts in defense
In defense is where there are the most doubts. Dani Carvajal He is the starting right back, replaced by Jesús Navas. Two veterans (32 and 38 years old), who have caused me to test Pedro Porro. But the Tottenham player has appeared in the photo of the two defeats of the De la Fuente era (Scotland and Colombia). The coach is concerned that Carvajal could get injured, something recurring in his last seasons, and be left alone with Navas, who suffers with fast wingers who confront him. On the other side Grimaldo He has earned the position for being, as he himself has said, in the best moment of his career. He was not on the coach’s initial list, but his extraordinary moment of form opens a gap for him on the list. The second should be Gayá, but he is another winger who gets injured easily, so we should not rule out the entry of a third, which would be the Madrid player Fran García.
In the center of the defense is where there are most doubts. The Norman y Laporte They are fixed and there are two places left to distribute. If Pau Cubarsí stabilizes in the Barça eleven, the third spot will be his, something that the coach trusts will happen. And the fourth, if he finally decides to take four centre-backs, would be played by David García, Vivian and Íñigo Martínez, with an advantage for the Osasunista.
Consolidated midfield, Pedri’s lack
In the midfield the question is whether he will bet on five players or six. Today it is more likely that it is the former, being indisputable Rodrigo, Mikel Merino, Zubimendi y Fabian. The fifth should be Jungle Sancetwho being a midfielder, gives him more offensive aggressiveness, but if Pedri arrives because injuries allow it, De la Fuente has been very clear: “You always have to wait for Pedri.”
Attack with little space and many candidates
On the front line Morata y Joselu They are fixed, because they are different and even complementary. Two players who, in addition, are giving De la Fuente good results with the Real Madrid player assuming the role of a catalyst.
The other big unknown is the list of players who will act behind the 9. They have a ticket for Germany Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, Dani Olmo y Mikel Oyarzabal The first two give him imbalance and arrival from the outside, in addition to scoring when they step into the area, the one from Leipzig and the one from Real offer him more versatility. Along with them a fifth name should appear and in the race to take that place are Sarabia and Álex Baena, who have appeared in these friendlies, and Marco Asensio, irregular this season, and a Ferran Torres in whom De la Fuente has faith because he can play on the wing, on a changed foot or in his natural profile, where he provides overflow, or as a false 9, which allows him to save a forward. But Torres, like Asensio, must earn that place on the list of 23 players who will be concentrated on June 10 at the Der Öschberghof facilities, in the town of Donaueschingen, in the heart of the German Black Forest.
The matches against Colombia and Brazil have confirmed the idea we had about some players. The wardrobe did not measure up in the second half in London against the ‘coffee growers’ with three months left, there are four places still up in the air on the final list. Once again the decision will depend on the form of the players in their clubs.
GOALKEEPERS (3): Unai Simon, David Raya and Álex Remiro
DEFENSES (8): Dani Carvajal, Jesús Navas or Pablo Porro, Robin Le Normand, Aymeric Laporte, Pau Curbasí, David García, Iñígo Martínez, Dani Vivian, Álex Grimaldo and José Luis Gayá, Fran Garcia.
MEDIA (5): Rodrigo, Martín Zubimendi, Mikel Merino, Fabián, Oihan Sancet. Pedri, Alex Baena
ENDS (5): Dani Olmo, Nico Williams, Lamine Yamal, Mikel Oyarzabal. Ferran Torres, Sarabia and Marco Asensio
FORWARDS (2): Alvaro Morata and Joselu.
*In bold, fixed
*In italics, candidates to enter
2024-03-27 08:44:59
#months #close #positions
