SPAIN'S 2018 WORLD CUP SQUAD: RAMOS & INIESTA AND OTHER SURPRISING 23-MAN LIST
SPAIN'S 2018 WORLD CUP SQUAD: RAMOS
& INIESTA AND OTHER SURPRISING 23-MAN LIST
La Roja will be
among the favourites in Russia and coach Julen Lopetegui has a wealth of talent
from which to choose. So who has made the cut?
Spain are a team on
form. By thrashing Argentina 6-1 in Madrid at the end of March, Julen
Lopetegui's side extended their unbeaten run to 18 games, and
they will be one of the fancied sides in Russia this summer.
European champions
in 2008 and 2012 and World Cup winners in 2010, Spain disappointed in their
last two major tournaments – crashing out in the group stages of the 2014
World Cup and losing in the last 16 of Euro 2016.
Coach Vicente del
Bosque bowed out after the continental competition and Lopetegui took over,
leading La Roja in an impressive qualifying campaign as they topped Group
G with nine wins and a draw from their 10 games.
A 1-1 draw with
Germany in Dusseldorf and then the resounding victory over Argentina in March
continued the Basque boss' unbeaten record and Spain have been identified
as one of the principal candidates to lift the trophy in Moscow this July.
Lopetegui has now decided which players
to take to Russia and Goal has a look at
who made the cut, as well as who didn't.
WHO
MADE SPAIN'S 23-MAN SQUAD?
Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea is
Spain's undisputed first choice these days after Lopetegui decided to dispense
with former captain Iker Casillas, and young Athletic Club
shot-stopper Kepa Arrizabalaga will be his reserve in Russia,
with Pepe Reina bringing experience to the panel.
In defence, Sergio
Ramos and Gerard Pique have both been included. The
Real Madrid captain is Spain's skipper, while the Barcelona centre-back is also
extremely important for La Roja and is bowing out after the World Cup. In the
full-back positions, Barca's Jordi Alba and Madrid's Dani
Carvajal are also guaranteed of their places in the squad
this summer.
Players able to
cover in several positions are always useful, meanwhile, and that makes Nacho a
sensible inclusion - the dependable Madrid man is able to play
all across the back line. Arsenal's Nacho Monreal and
Chelsea's Cesar Azpilicueta are similarly versatile and Alvaro
Odriozola has earned his place after starring for Real Sociedad.
Barca
midfielder Sergio Busquets is back in the fold and on the
plane to Russia, along with his club colleague Andres Iniesta, who
is leaving the Catalan club this summer and has said he will probably
retire from international football after the World Cup.
Madrid pair Isco and Marco
Asensio are also key for Lopetegui, along with Manchester
City's David Silva and Bayern Munich's Thiago. They
are all assured of their places in the 23-man list, and they
are joined by Atletico Madrid duo Koke and Saul,
with Lopetegui a big admirer of both players.
Further
forward, Diego Costa will be in competition with the likes of
Celta Vigo forward Iago Aspas, Valencia star Rodrigo and
Real Madrid's Lucas Vazquez .
