European champions Spain will head into next month\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s leading sides.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s second World Cup success following their 2010 triumph in South Africa.<\/p>\n
De la Fuente played down the significance of having no representatives from Real Madrid, instead focusing on the players who earned their places.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m the manager and I don\u2019t look at which club the players come from. They are national team players, and I don\u2019t have the same local bias that a supporter might have. I just want these players to feel proud to represent the national team,\u201d de la Fuente said to reporters.<\/p>\n
Barcelona\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cExcitement is the key word. Passion,\u201d de la Fuente said.<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cThe reaction across Spain\u2014adults and children alike\u2014is that they are fully behind the national team. It\u2019s an honour for me to represent the national team.\u201d<\/p>\n
Arsenal provide three members of Spain\u2019s Premier League group, with goalkeeper David Raya joined by midfielders Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Merino. Manchester City\u2019s Rodri is also included, giving de la Fuente a settled midfield presence ahead of the tournament.<\/p>\n
The coach also addressed fitness worries ahead of the World Cup, with Yamal and Nico Williams expected to arrive while managing hamstring problems.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re very relaxed. As long as there are no setbacks, we\u2019ll have everyone ready from the very first match. We\u2019re in close contact with the clubs\u2019 medical teams,\u201d de la Fuente said.<\/p>\n
He continued: \u201cWe\u2019ll call on them when we think it\u2019s appropriate. I\u2019d like to reiterate that we\u2019ll have the squad in top form, and we\u2019ll be able to enjoy watching them in the tournament.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
European champions Spain will head into next month\u2019s 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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"Spain World Cup Squad: Barcelona Stars, No Real Madrid","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Luis de la Fuente names Spain\u2019s 26-man World Cup squad with eight Barcelona players\u2014while leaving out Real Madrid stars for the fi","mma_seo_breadcrumb_text":"","mma_seo_breadcrumb_url":"","mma_seo_breadcrumb_hide_ui":"","mma_seo_breadcrumb_labels":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1023","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","","category-sports"],"yoast_head":"\n