Spain national team coach Luis de la Fuente has named his 23-player matchday squad to face the Czech Republic at the Estadio Carlos Tartiere in Oviedo, leaving out central defender Pau Cubarsí and Real Madrid forward Carlos Espí as tactical scratches. As Marca reported, the European champions trimmed their roster down from 25 players following recent squad adjustments, with Cubarsí and Espí slated to watch the UEFA Nations League fixture from the stands on Saturday, October 3, 2026.
The decision to sideline Cubarsí comes as a surprise given his heavy workload for club and country. According to Sport, the young central defender has played every single minute under De la Fuente during the World Cup and the opening two Nations League matches against England and Croatia, prompting the coaching staff to grant him a night off in Oviedo so he can recover fully for the upcoming trip to Split.
Carlos Espí Joins Spain Squad After Under-21 Success
Spain arrived in Asturias with a modified group after a wave of physical setbacks across the international window.
To cover the absence in attack, Real Madrid youngster Carlos Espí received a late call-up straight from Ibiza, where he was previously stationed with Spain’s Under-21 squad. Espí arrived at the Blau Hotel Las Caldas late on Friday evening following a stellar five-goal performance in a 0-13 European Under-21 Championship qualifying rout of San Marino, as noted by the Real Madrid official club site. Despite making the trip to Oviedo, De la Fuente opted not to include the teenage striker in the final 23-man matchday sheet for the Czech Republic clash, meaning his senior debut will have to wait until Tuesday’s fixture against Croatia.
Roberto Fernández Enters the Matchday Twenty-Three
While Espí and Cubarsí sit out the Oviedo encounter, Espanyol forward Roberto Fernández has earned his maiden inclusion in a final matchday squad under De la Fuente. Fernández has been assigned the number 17 shirt and holds a genuine opportunity to make his senior international debut off the bench. Other squad movements for the Carlos Tartiere fixture include Fran García taking the number 5 jersey, while Robin Le Normand occupies the number 3 shirt and is positioned to anchor the central defense alongside Aymeric Laporte.
Spain enters the third matchday of the UEFA Nations League group stage looking to consolidate first place in the standings. A victory against the Czech side—managed by Santi Denia—would lift the reigning champions to nine points, providing a comfortable cushion before the squad boards a flight to Croatia for the concluding fixture of the international window.
Matchday 23 Squad List for Oviedo
The complete official squad list and shirt numbers for Spain’s fixture against the Czech Republic comprise the following players:
- 1. David Raya
- 2. Dean Huijsen
- 3. Robin Le Normand
- 4. Iván Fresneda
- 5. Fran García
- 6. Mikel Merino
- 7. Víctor Muñoz
- 8. Fabián Ruiz
- 9. Fermín López
- 10. Dani Olmo
- 11. Yeremy Pino
- 12. Marc Pubill
- 13. Josep Martínez
- 14. Aymeric Laporte
- 15. Álex Baena
- 16. Rodri Hernández
- 17. Roberto Fernández
- 18. Martin Zubimendi
- 19. Lamine Yamal
- 20. Pedri González
- 21. Mikel Oyarzabal
- 22. Marc Cucurella
- 23. Unai Simón
The remaining question centers on whether Dean Huijsen will partner Aymeric Laporte on the right side of the central defense in place of the rested Cubarsí, or if Le Normand will step directly into the starting eleven when the referee blows the whistle at the Estadio Carlos Tartiere.
