With just three matches remaining in La Liga, the focus for many is shifting towards securing a spot in the upcoming World Cup. Spain’s manager, Luis de la Fuente, has until May 30th to finalize his 26-player roster for the tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The competition for these coveted positions is intense.
De la Fuente indicated in March that approximately 20 to 22 squad places were already decided. However, recent reports suggest that Barcelona’s young midfielder Gavi has indeed secured one of these spots. According to Diario AS, the 21-year-old’s recent performances have propelled him back into consideration for “La Roja.” He is expected to be joined by Barcelona teammates Pau Cubarsi and goalkeeper Joan Garcia.
De la Fuente Nears Decision on Defensive Options
The full-back positions are reportedly set to be filled by Pedro Porro, Marcos Llorente, Marc Cucurella, and Alejandro Grimaldo, which would leave Dani Carvajal out of the squad. Real Madrid’s Dean Huijsen and Athletic Club’s Aymeric Laporte are expected to be paired with Cubarsi in central defense, though the fourth center-back spot remains uncertain.
Robin Le Normand is reportedly vying for that final center-back position against Atletico Madrid’s Marc Pubill. Furthermore, AS reports that another Atletico player, Alex Baena, is also facing uncertainty regarding his inclusion. While his quality is not in doubt, his debut season at the Metropolitano has been marked by inconsistency.
Intense Competition for Places in the Spanish Squad
Following the revelation that Alberto Moleiro, Victor Munoz, and Jorge de Frutos were among the 55 players on the preliminary longlist, Marca has added Ander Barrenetxea, Aleix Garcia, Carlos Soler, Yeremy Pino, and Jesus Rodriguez to the list of potential options. 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 extended list. In addition to Pubill and Le Normand, de la Fuente is considering Pau Torres, Cristhian Mosquera, Dani Vivian, and Eric Garcia for the center-back roles.
De la Fuente faces difficult decisions, compounded by several injury concerns. Nico Williams is expected to recover in time from his current injury, although he has struggled with fitness throughout the season. Fabian Ruiz appears to have regained full fitness. However, the availability of Mikel Merino, a key player for the Euro 2024 squad, remains less certain as he has yet to play for Arsenal following a foot injury.
