European champions Spain will head into next month’s World Cup with a strong Barcelona influence, after coach Luis de la Fuente named a 26-man squad on Monday featuring eight players from the Catalan club. The selection also marks a major shift away from Real Madrid, with not a single player from the Spanish giants making the tournament party.
It is the first time Spain will attend the World Cup without a Real Madrid player in their squad, a notable omission for the 15-time Champions League winners as de la Fuente prepares to lead one of the competition’s leading sides.
Dean Huijsen and Dani Carvajal were among the Real Madrid players who missed out, leaving Barcelona to form the core of the team pursuing Spain’s second World Cup success following their 2010 triumph in South Africa.
De la Fuente played down the significance of having no representatives from Real Madrid, instead focusing on the players who earned their places.
“I’m the manager and I don’t look at which club the players come from. They are national team players, and I don’t have the same local bias that a supporter might have. I just want these players to feel proud to represent the national team,” de la Fuente said to reporters.
Barcelona’s contingent in the squad includes Joan Garcia, Pau Cubarsi, Eric Garcia, Gavi, Pedri, Dani Olmo, Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres. In addition, seven of the called-up players are currently plying their trade in the Premier League.
“Excitement is the key word. Passion,” de la Fuente said.
He added: “The reaction across Spain—adults and children alike—is that they are fully behind the national team. It’s an honour for me to represent the national team.”
Arsenal provide three members of Spain’s Premier League group, with goalkeeper David Raya joined by midfielders Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Merino. Manchester City’s Rodri is also included, giving de la Fuente a settled midfield presence ahead of the tournament.
The coach also addressed fitness worries ahead of the World Cup, with Yamal and Nico Williams expected to arrive while managing hamstring problems.
“We’re very relaxed. As long as there are no setbacks, we’ll have everyone ready from the very first match. We’re in close contact with the clubs’ medical teams,” de la Fuente said.
He continued: “We’ll call on them when we think it’s appropriate. I’d like to reiterate that we’ll have the squad in top form, and we’ll be able to enjoy watching them in the tournament.”
Spain arrive in confident mood after lifting the European Championship in Germany two years ago, but they do so with high expectations from a fiercely engaged home support.
Spain squad for the World Cup
Goalkeepers
- Unai Simon (Athletic Bilbao)
- David Raya (Arsenal)
- Joan Garcia (Barcelona)
Defenders
- Pedro Porro (Tottenham Hotspur)
- Marcos Llorente (Atletico Madrid)
- Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona)
- Marc Pubill (Atletico Madrid)
- Aymeric Laporte (Athletic Bilbao)
- Eric Garcia (Barcelona)
- Alex Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen)
- Marc Cucurella (Chelsea)
Midfielders
- Rodri (Manchester City)
- Martin Zubimendi (Arsenal)
- Gavi (Barcelona)
- Pedri (Barcelona)
- Fabian Ruiz (Paris St Germain)
- Mikel Merino (Arsenal)
- Alex Baena (Atletico Madrid)
Forwards
- Dani Olmo (Barcelona)
- Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
- Ferran Torres (Barcelona)
- Yeremy Pino (Crystal Palace)
- Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao)
- Victor Munoz (Osasuna)
- Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad)
- Borja Iglesias (Celta)
