Barcelona midfielder Marc Bernal don talk say im dey hope to make Luis de la Fuente’s Spain squad for World Cup 2026. De la Fuente go announce im final list on Monday, and Bernal don cross im fingers after making impressive return from injury this season.
“I would like to go there. Representing a country is the best thing for a footballer,” im tell Catalunya Radio. “I’m not ruling myself out yet. For now, I’m not making any plans for the summer until the final list comes out on Monday.”
De la Fuente don confirm say im go call up 26 players, and there fit be some surprises for the list. The Spain boss dey expect to include plenty Barca stars, but no go get Fermin Lopez after im undergo surgery on fractured metatarsal this week.
Bernal don spend plenty part of the season fighting back from devastating knee injury. Just as im dey start to establish himself for first team under Hansi Flick, the serious injury stop im momentum and keep am sidelined for almost one year. But the young midfielder don respond well for recent months, and im late-season performances don remind many at Barcelona why the club rate am high.
“I owe him my life,” Bernal talk about Flick. “He put his faith in me when I was just 17 and I’ll always be grateful to him.”
Despite Barcelona missing out on bigger success for Europe this season, Bernal believe the squad dey move for right direction. “We’re happy. We missed out on the Champions League by the narrowest of margins in a high-stakes tie (against Atlético Madrid), but next year we’re aiming for more.”
De la Fuente don already choose im 26 players wey go travel to the tournament for USA, Mexico, and Canada. According to am, the decisions regarding the squad don take place advance, and both the playing model and tactical principles don establish. The coach note say the final list fit include new names wey never dey called up to senior team before.
Important selection criteria include not only playing ability, but also players’ personal qualities. The coach no go tolerate lack of respect or team spirit for the squad. For interview with podcast ‘El camino de Mario’, de la Fuente yarn about behind-scenes work of coaching staff: every week, specialists watch up to 60 matches and analyze performances of both their own players and opponents.
Particular attention dey go to atmosphere inside the group. After success at Euros, the concept of “family” don become strong for the team. Players spend plenty time together, wey strengthen their unity. De la Fuente believe say this unity and mutual support be key factors for development of national team.
Among difficult decisions, the coach highlight refusal to invite Sergio Ramos, despite im status as legend of Spanish football. De la Fuente admit say such steps no easy, but insist say decisions dey make solely for interest of team. Im also note say im no allow outside factors to influence im choices and try to avoid external pressure.
From tactical perspective, Spain go continue to use 4-2-3-1 formation, focusing on wing play and strong central line. The coach emphasize say modern football require not only possession control, but also ability to transition quickly from attack to defense. According to am, the team don become more versatile and ready for different match scenarios.
Goalkeeping lineup remain one of strongest assets: de la Fuente dey confident for each of selected candidates, although im acknowledge say some players, like David Raya, dey underestimated for public sphere. The coach don almost finalize main squad, but no rule out say certain players fit no feature for opening matches.
Among leaders and experienced players highlighted be Rodrigo, Merino, Oyarzabal, Ferran, and Dani Olmo. Gavi hold special place, having returned to high level after serious injuries and, according to coach, earn im spot for team solely due to im own efforts.
De la Fuente no plan to leave national team after World Cup and call upcoming tournament historic: for first time, 48 teams go participate, and conditions go be unusual. Among favorites, im highlight France, Brazil, Argentina, Portugal, England, Senegal, Morocco, and Spain, emphasizing say all of them get similar chances of success.
The coach also draw attention to trend of Spanish players going abroad and express regret say footballers like Fabián, Zubimendi, and Merino dey forced to seek playing opportunities outside La Liga. For im opinion, national championship suppose remain priority for country’s leading players.
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