With only three matches remaining in La Liga, the focus for many is shifting towards securing a coveted spot in the upcoming World Cup. Spain’s manager, Luis de la Fuente, has until May 30th to announce his 26-player roster for the tournament co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The competition for these positions is intense.
De la Fuente indicated in March that approximately 20-22 squad places were already decided. However, it appears that Barcelona’s young midfielder, Gavi, might have secured one of these coveted spots. This is according to reports from Diario AS, which suggest that the 21-year-old’s recent performances have significantly boosted his chances of being included in the “La Roja” squad. He is expected to be joined by Barcelona teammates Pau Cubarsi and goalkeeper Joan Garcia.
De la Fuente Narrows Down Defensive Choices
The current indications point towards Pedro Porro, Marcos Llorente, Marc Cucurella, and Alejandro Grimaldo being the chosen full-backs, potentially leaving Dani Carvajal out of the squad. In central defense, Real Madrid’s Dean Huijsen and Athletic Club’s Aymeric Laporte are expected to feature alongside Cubarsi. The final center-back position remains uncertain.
Robin Le Normand is reportedly in contention for this role, competing with his Atletico Madrid teammate Marc Pubill. Furthermore, AS reports that another Atletico player, Alex Baena, is also a doubt for de la Fuente. While his quality is not in question, his first season at the Metropolitano has been marked by inconsistency.
Intense Competition for Remaining Spain Squad Places
Following the revelation that Alberto Moleiro, Victor Munoz, and Jorge de Frutos were among the initial 55-man longlist, Marca has added Ander Barrenetxea, Aleix Garcia, Carlos Soler, Yeremy Pino, and Jesus Rodriguez to the list of potential candidates. In the event of any injuries at the full-back positions, Braga’s Victor Gomez and Real Sociedad’s Sergio Gomez are also on the longlist. In addition to Pubill and Le Normand, de la Fuente is also considering Pau Torres, Cristhian Mosquera, Dani Vivian, and Eric Garcia for the defensive line.
De la Fuente faces difficult decisions, compounded by several injury concerns. Nico Williams is anticipated to recover in time from his current injury, despite facing fitness challenges throughout the season. Fabian Ruiz appears to have returned to full fitness. However, the condition of Mikel Merino, a key player in the Euro 2024 campaign, remains less certain, as he has yet to feature for Arsenal following a foot injury.