Robert Morales |
Las Rozas (Madrid) (EFE).- The times of change that are breathed in the Spanish team, increased with two revolutionary lists by Luis de la Fuente, are reflected in the presence of only nine players out of the 27 who qualified Spain for the final phase of the League of Nations, the second that it has played in the three editions of the recently created tournament.
Of the 23 chosen by Luis de la Fuente, only nine have collaborated on the road to the search for a title eleven years later.
The coach from La Rioja has lost, compared to the initial call-up, David García, Nico Williams and Juan Bernat, of whom only Nico had had a reduced but key participation in the tournament, by providing the assist for the goal in Portugal that sealed the pass to the final phase.
Unai Simón, the only one who played everything in the six qualifying matches, Dani Carvajal, Jordi Alba, Rodri, Gavi, Marco Asensio, Dani Olmo, Yeremy Pino and Álvaro Morata are the nine ‘survivors’ who had minutes in the matches that They certified the second presence of Spain in the final four that presents the League of Nations format.
In the six games, in which Spain won three, drew two and lost one, with 8 goals scored (1.34 per game) and five conceded (0.84 on average), with three clean sheets from Unai Simón who signed an average of 1.84 saves for each match, together with the Basque goalkeeper, only Gavi, of those present, played minutes in the six games.
Both Ferran Torres, who played all six games, and Pablo Sarabia, with a brilliant role scoring two of the eight goals and providing an assist, have been discarded by Luis de la Fuente. Sergio Busquets, already retired from La Roja, also appeared in all the matches. While Pau Torres did not count for the new coach despite being the defender with the most prominence in the standings and the third outfield player with the most minutes (360 minutes).
Injuries have prevented a great reference of the Spanish team like Pedri from being in the final phase of the Netherlands. It already happened in the last edition when Spain caressed the title but ended up being overcome in the final in Milan, by Kylian Mbappé’s France who attended the tournament as world champion.
Six internationals remain 20 months later
The entry and exit of players in the final stage of Luis Enrique and the initial one of Luis de la Fuente, the lack of continuity, is reflected in the presence of only six footballers in the call with respect to the summons of the last final to four of the League of Nations.
From the starting team in the final against France, on October 10, 2021, Unai Simón, Aymeric Laporte, Gavi and Rodri will be able to repeat. Of those who came on as refreshments from the bench, Yeremy Pino and Mikel Merino.
From the absence of 9 to the variety
Spain will go from seeking the League of Nations with a call without a pure 9 twenty months ago, due to the injuries to Morata, Ansu Fati and Gerard Moreno, to presenting variety in the profile of center forwards with De la Fuente.
The versatility of Marco Asensio, who in just 181 minutes in qualifying matches was the top assist, with three assists in 181 minutes, and of Dani Olmo or Yeremy Pino on the wings. With the option presented by the three of being false nines against Italy, if the tactical idea that gave Spain success in its last duels against the ‘Azzurra’ is maintained.
Unlikely given the new profiles that the team so longed for at the World Cup last November. Without ‘plan b’ for Morata who goes to the League of Nations with the competition of Joselu Mato, author of two goals against Norway in his debut, with Rodrigo Moreno more mature and strengthened in English football and with Ansu Fati recovering the scoring spark in Barcelona.