Spain manager Luis de la Fuente: "We have 20-22 players in mind for World Cup squad"

Spain's national team coach, Luis de la Fuente, indicates that a significant portion of his World Cup squad is already decided, with only a few spots (four to six) still open. He acknowledges that potential injuries could influence his final selections. His remarks come as La Roja prepares for their last friendly match before de la Fuente announces his 26-man roster for the tournament in the United States.

Following a convincing 3-0 victory over Serbia on Friday, Spain is set to play Egypt at the RCDE Stadium on Tuesday evening. De la Fuente confirmed to Marca his intention to rotate the squad for this upcoming match.

"We plan to refresh the team, but we will still field a highly competitive squad, as our goal is to continue winning," de la Fuente stated. "Players who require game time will get it. The aim is to revitalize the team while maintaining its competitive edge."

Many observers view La Roja as one of the favorites for this summer's tournament, alongside other strong contenders such as France, England, and Argentina.

"I appreciate it when people speak highly of us. There’s no denying the obvious," he commented. "Just as I speak about other teams, like France, anyone who doubts their status as favorites... we know we have to perform exceptionally well. A near-perfect performance will be required to win the World Cup."

Goalkeeping Dilemma for Spain

The goalkeeping position remains one of the most discussed aspects of his squad selection. While Unai Simon appears to be the primary choice, de la Fuente's decision to call up four goalkeepers for the current international break, including Barcelona's Joan Garcia for the first time, raised some eyebrows. The starting goalkeeper for the Egypt match has already been decided.

"We have already made the decision, but the flow of the game is unpredictable," he stated. "You will discover who the starting goalkeeper is tomorrow; I won't reveal anything further now. We'll observe how the match unfolds. This game is crucial as we are vying for the top spot in the world rankings. We need to field a very competitive team that instills complete confidence. We'll see what transpires in goal, both concerning who starts and who finishes the match."

Joan Garcia, having transferred from Espanyol—whose home stadium is hosting the upcoming friendly—is now considered persona non grata by some fans in Cornella. De la Fuente was asked if this might lead to booing from some 'Pericos' (Espanyol fans).

"They should leave such temptations at home and come to cheer instead," de la Fuente urged. "These players represent the Spanish national team. If anyone feels that inclination, they should keep it to themselves."

Majority of Spain's Squad Set

De la Fuente further elaborated that he has largely finalized his squad for the summer tournament in his mind.

"We possess a strong core group, a very solid foundation," he confirmed. "Inevitably, there will be unforeseen challenges and injuries, meaning some guaranteed starters might become unavailable. However, it's true that we have approximately 20 to 22 players whom we are keen to include."

"We have it more or less figured out, though the exact number I mentioned (22) was illustrative," he clarified. "There's a solid foundation, and I hope many players will be fit. I said 22, but it could easily have been a different figure."

Injury Concerns

Eric Garcia was a strong candidate for a return to the national team but sustained a late injury, preventing his call-up.

"He has been with me since the youth ranks and is a player highly regarded by both the Federation and myself," de la Fuente remarked. "He was in excellent form but suffered a minor injury that likely kept him from being here. This opens up opportunities for many others. Hopefully, selecting the final squad will be a difficult task due to the depth of talent."

Additionally, concerns exist in Spain regarding Nico Williams' fitness for the tournament, following a season plagued by injuries. Mikel Merino is also in a race against time to recover.

"Nico has already returned to training, which is a positive sign. Mikel Merino, however, is dealing with a long-term injury," he explained. "We will monitor their progress closely. I have immense faith in Mikel, and he is very eager to recover. He's a resilient individual, and I believe he will make it back."

Both Williams and Merino were crucial players for de la Fuente during Euro 2024. La Roja lacks direct like-for-like replacements for them, though Alex Baena and Victor Munoz were trialed on the left wing against Serbia. Fabian Ruiz is considered Merino's most natural alternative, but the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder is also currently managing an injury.