Spain names Valles, Jacobo Ramón and Marc Roca for Czech Republic and England games

Tribute before the squad

Luis de la Fuente announced his list on Friday, 6 November, in a video that opened with a tribute to the victims of the Urda rail accident and to Jesús de Miguel, a Tenerife player who died after a violent clash during a match. The coach framed the squad around the national grief and said the team would pay tribute to the victims on the pitch. The Spanish football federation (RFEF) and the national team issued a joint statement of condolences to the families affected.

“Football has a social responsibility and must be in the right place in history.”

Newcomers and returnees

Three players are included for the first time in the senior squad: goalkeeper Álvaro Valles and midfielder Marc Roca, both of Real Betis, and centre-back Jacobo Ramón of Como. Valles joins Unai Simón, David Raya and Joan García, giving the coach four goalkeepers, a choice he has made once before, in March. Joan García returns from injury. Jacobo Ramón takes the place left by Eric García, while Marc Roca comes in for Rodri, who is out for several weeks. Pablo Barrios, Ander Barrenetxea and Pedro Porro also return to the squad. Eric García and Dani Olmo are absent through injury, and Gavi is again left out. Roberto Fernández keeps the role of central striker.

The two matches and the group table

Spain face the Czech Republic on Thursday, 12 November, in Prague at the Letná Stadium, with kick-off at 20:45 local time. They then host England on Sunday, 15 November, at the Metropolitano in Madrid, also at 20:45. Both fixtures close Spain's group stage in the Nations League. Most reports count 27 players in the squad, although one report put the total at 26.

Spain have won all four group matches so far and sit top of Group A3 with 12 points. England have nine points, Croatia three and the Czech Republic none. The top two teams advance to the quarter-finals, which are scheduled for March 2027, and the final phase is set for June, between 9 and 13 June, at a venue still to be decided. Finishing first would give Spain home advantage in the second leg of the quarter-final.

Spain12

England9

Croatia3

Czech Republic0

Spain

12 points

England

9 points

Croatia

3 points

Czech Republic

0 points

Data from the article text

Unbeaten run and what comes next

Spain also want to stretch an unbeaten run that began in June 2023 to 45 matches. That target runs into the quarter-finals in March 2027. The coach has committed the team to honouring the victims on the pitch in both games against the Czech Republic and England.