Spain coach Luis de la Fuente don release im 26-man World Cup squad, and di big news na say no single Real Madrid player make di list for di first time ever. Di current European champions go rely on eight Barcelona players instead.
Injured forward Lamine Yamal, wey be 18 years old, don still make di squad despite tearing im left hamstring on 22 April while playing for Barcelona. Di young star miss di final month of di season but still get nod from di coach.
Real Madrid defenders Dean Huijsen and Dani Carvajal no dey di squad, as Real finis eight points behind La Liga champions Barcelona and no win any trophy dis season. De la Fuente tok say, “I no dey look one club or another. I no get dat local bias wey fan fit get. For me, e dey more global. Di only tin I want na for dese footballers to feel proud to represent di national team.”
Nico Williams, Athletic Bilbao winger wey dey struggle wit hamstring problem, also dey di squad. De la Fuente add say, “We dey very relaxed. Barring any setbacks, we go get everyone available from di very first match.”
Di World Cup run from 11 June to 19 July. Spain go play debutants Cape Verde on 15 June, Saudi Arabia on 21 June, and Uruguay on 26 June for Group H.
Midfielder Mikel Merino, wey return for Arsenal last Premier League game of di season on Sunday after four months out wit stress fracture for foot, don also make di squad. He be one of seven Premier League players alongside clubmates David Raya and Martin Zubimendi, Tottenham‘s Pedro Porro, Chelsea‘s Marc Cucurella, Manchester City’s Rodri, and Crystal Palace’s Yeremy Pino.
Uncapped defenders Eric Garcia and Marc Pubill don get call-up after impressing for Barcelona and Atletico Madrid respectively. De la Fuente tok say, “Excitement be di key word. Passion. Di reaction of people all over Spain – adults and children alike – na say dem dey fully behind di national team.”
Barcelona midfielder Fermin Lopez don miss di tournament wit broken foot.
Di full squad include goalkeepers Unai Simon (Athletic Bilbao), David Raya (Arsenal), Joan Garcia (Barcelona); defenders Marcos Llorente (Atletico Madrid), Marc Pubill (Atletico Madrid), Pedro Porro (Tottenham), Aymeric Laporte (Athletic Bilbao), Eric Garcia (Barcelona), Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona), Marc Cucurella (Chelsea), Alejandro Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen); midfielders Rodri (Manchester City), Martin Zubimendi (Arsenal), Mikel Merino (Arsenal), Pedri (Barcelona), Gavi (Barcelona), Fabian Ruiz (Paris St-Germain), Alex Baena (Atletico Madrid); and forwards Yeremy Pino (Crystal Palace), Victor Munoz (Osasuna), Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Ferran Torres (Barcelona), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), Dani Olmo (Barcelona), Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Borja Iglesias (Celta Vigo).
Marc Cucurella, wey be Chelsea player, don also make di squad. Di defender, wey part of La Roja side wey lift Euro 2024 trophy, don earn 23 caps since im international debut for 2021. Spain go begin dia campaign on June 15 against Cape Verde.
Eight Barcelona players dey di squad: Lamine Yamal, Cubarsi, Ferran Torres, Pedri, Dani Olmo, Gavi, Eric Garcia, and Joan Garcia. Marc Bernal also dey among nine players for di support group wey go train wit di squad until di warm-up match against Iraq on 4 June.
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