The Spanish team closed its pass to next summer’s World Cup this Tuesday in Seville, but there are still almost seven months left until the first match of the tournament, on June 11. With 42 of the 48 teams qualified, Spain still has a long road of logistical preparations after the December 5 draw in Washington; the dispute for the title in March, the Grand Final against Argentina, the last world champion; and the uncertainty over which players from Luis de la Fuente’s hard core will arrive safely at the event to complement a list of 26 already very defined, but with options open. “There will be cakes,” Aleix García told La Cartuja after the draw against Türkiye. “We are all very good. The goal is to put the coach in difficulty.”
The coach has everything quite decisive at the expense of injury interference. His words in public appearances and his choices in lists and parties in recent months are very eloquent.
In goal he hasn’t moved from his trusted trio, that of the European Championships, despite Joan García’s take-off, which was truncated in recent weeks. “The Unai Simón debate doesn’t exist. If there ever was one, it disappeared a long time ago,” he said Tuesday. “He is a historic super goalkeeper in numbers and in the future.” The goalkeeping group is completed by David Raya and Alex Remiro, permanent starters in all their lists, barring unforeseen circumstances.
The defense also seems very defined, just waiting for the setbacks of injuries. On the right flank, Pedro Porro has established himself during Carvajal’s absences, who would be the other chosen one if he were healthy. On the other hand, Cucurella and Grimaldo left few options for the others. The first four central defenders have also been very stable in recent months: Laporte has returned to a high level, Le Normand and Huijsen have not been missing when they return to form and Cubarsi has played more than Vivian, who could be the fifth if De la Fuente decides to take five. So far there are 11 players.
In midfield, in the absence of Rodri, very intermittent after the serious knee injury, Zubimendi took control of the game, which he barely shared with Aleix García, the third option. The next four in that area have no doubts: Fabián, Pedri, Merino and Olmo. There are 17 of them.
There are no doubts up front with Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, Ferran, Baena and Oyarzabal. The grays start with Álvaro Morata, the great captain who was absent for a long time at Las Rozas, although De la Fuente always insists that he still sees him as a footballer “for the future” and suggests that he is waiting for him for the World Cup. There are 23. The next nine to appear is Borja Iglesias, the Spanish top scorer in the league. He would be number 24. Samu seems to be the chosen one of the next generation, but the coach still sees him as a softie: “He is still a young player, with fantastic energy and playing for the Spanish team excites him a lot, it puts him through a thousand revolutions,” the coach said on Tuesday. “As he gains more experience, with more calm, the potential he shows every Sunday at his club will also be seen in the national team. We are in no hurry with him.”
For the two remaining places, the distribution of minutes in the qualifying phase aims at Yeremy Pino, Fermín, Marcos Llorente and Pablo Barrios, depending on the position that the coach seeks to reinforce, which also does not forget Ayoze. The Villarreal player had a difficult start to the season due to his physical problems.
Injuries had a major impact on the lists of the qualifying phase, but they also made it possible to verify the depth of the wardrobe of the selectable players. Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, for example, have played just over 100 minutes out of a possible 540, according to Opta Records. With the exception of Tuesday’s draw against Turkey, Spain has dominated these months with a very different configuration to the one that had amazed just over a year ago at the 2024 European Championships. If you put together the eleven most used players in the ranking in each position and compare it with that of the European Championship, only three players coincide: Unai Simón, Cucurella and Le Normand.
“Among the numerous injuries we have had,” De la Fuente said Tuesday; “There is a positive part, which is the possibility that other footballers have to assert themselves. Certainly in other circumstances they would not have this opportunity to demonstrate all the footballing potential they have in this showcase.” Spain has sent the world a powerful message that it is capable of dominating almost anyone.
But before the time comes to choose the 26 who will go to the World Cup, the coach will travel to the United States to be present on December 5th in Washington for the group draw and the championship match schedule. After learning the fate that the case has in store for La Roja, De la Fuente will not return to Spain immediately, but will continue for a few days in America, choosing a location to set up base camp, once he knows where he will play the matches of a tournament that will also pass through Canada and Mexico.
Before that, a high-profile event that will require an untested roster ahead of the World Cup. In the March window in which teams like Italy will play the play-offs, the Grand Final will be held in Doha, pitting the last champion of the European Championship and the last of the Copa América: Spain against Argentina, the two big favorites in the World Cup. “We are very excited,” De la Fuente said. “A great game.” A colossal appetizer less than three months before the World Cup.
