Luis de la Fuente names Spain squad for Czech Republic and England Nations League games

The squad

Luis de la Fuente named his Spain squad on Friday, 6 November, for the last two group-stage matches of the UEFA Nations League. Spain have 12 points from four games and top Group C, and they are already through to the quarter-finals, which will be played in March. What remains open is whether they finish first or second in the group.

The main newcomers are Jacobo Ramón, the Como centre-back, and Pablo Barrios of Atlético Madrid. Betis players Marc Roca and Álvaro Valles also come in, as does Ander Barrenetxea of Real Sociedad. Pedro Porro returns to the defence after missing the previous call-up with an injury, and Marc Pubill is picked as a right-back this time.

Absences and tributes

Injuries to Rodri and Dani Olmo opened places for the new faces, according to El Mundo, which also lists Eric García among the absentees. The announcement was overshadowed by a rail accident in Urda and the death of Jesús de Miguel, a striker for Tenerife. De la Fuente delivered the list in a short video, seated in an empty landscape, dressed in mourning and speaking in a low voice.

“Today Spain is in mourning.”

He said the squad wanted to be at the side of those affected and would pay tribute on the pitch. He then referred to both events in a second statement.

“Spain does not deserve this pain.”

Fixtures

Spain travel to Prague to face the Czech Republic on Thursday, 12 November, with kick-off at 20:45. Four days later they host England at the Metropolitano in Madrid on Sunday, 15 November, also at 20:45. The Czech side is coached by Santi Denia. The England match decides first place in the group, and the group winner plays the second leg of its quarter-final at home.

Players in the list

The goalkeepers are Unai Simón, David Raya, Joan García and Álvaro Valles. The defence includes Aymeric Laporte, Pau Cubarsí, Dean Huijsen, Marc Pubill, Pedro Porro, Jacobo Ramón, Marc Cucurella and Alejandro Grimaldo. In midfield the list names Fabián Ruiz, Pedri, Mikel Merino, Mikel Zubimendi, Álex Baena, Fermín López, Pablo Barrios and Marc Roca. The forwards are Mikel Oyarzabal, Ferran Torres, Roberto Fernández, Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, Yéremi Pino and Ander Barrenetxea.

El Mundo reports that Barrios could have been at the World Cup had injuries not intervened, and that he now has the chance to show his form. Marc Roca is also in the squad for the first time, according to the same report.