Spain Unveils Team for September World Cup Qualifiers, Garcia Missing from Roster
Spain's national football team has revealed its squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Bulgaria and Turkiye, scheduled for September 4 and 7, respectively. The team, under the guidance of coach Luis de la Fuente, features a mix of established stars and promising young talents.
The squad includes six Barcelona players: Pau Cubarsi, Pedri, Fermin Lopez (whose future remains uncertain amid reports linking him to Chelsea), Ferran Torres, Dani Olmo, and Lamine Yamal. Other notable inclusions are Mikel Oyarzabal from Real Sociedad, Nico Williams from Athletic Bilbao, Yeremy Pino from Villarreal, Alex Grimaldo from Bayer Leverkusen, and Martin Zubimendi from Arsenal.
De la Fuente, in his address to the media, emphasized that the national team is separate from the club the players come from. He urged Fermin Lopez to remain at Barcelona and expressed his preference for Spanish players to stay in LaLiga. However, when asked about Fermin's potential transfer, de la Fuente stated that he cannot comment on personal matters.
The coach also defended his decision to leave Joan Garcia out of the squad, despite the Espanyol goalkeeper's impressive performances in the 2024-25 season. De la Fuente opted to go with Unai Simon, David Raya, and Alex Remiro as his options between the sticks for the World Cup qualifiers. He did, however, mention that all goalkeepers are monitored and that Joan Garcia could be called up to the national team in the future.
Two players who have returned to the squad after recovering from injuries are Rodri and Dani Carvajal. Their inclusion is a boost to the team as they look to secure their place in the World Cup.
Gavi, another promising young talent, had been included in the initial squad but withdrew due to a knee injury, which will also keep him out of Barcelona's match against Rayo Vallecano on Sunday.
De la Fuente believes that the sporting aspect comes first in football, with the economic factor being secondary. He expressed regret when Spanish players leave LaLiga to play abroad, as he believes they make the league more competitive.
As the World Cup qualifiers approach, Spain will be looking to build on their strong performances and secure a place in the tournament. With a blend of youth and experience, they are confident of achieving their goal.
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