Spain’s preliminary squad for the upcoming European Championships has been announced, with notable inclusions and omissions catching the eye of football enthusiasts.
Manchester City’s Rodri, Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella, and on-loan Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya have secured spots in Luis de la Fuente’s 29-man provisional roster. However, the likes of Aston Villa’s Pau Torres and Tottenham’s Pedro Porro have been left out, raising eyebrows among fans.
The squad, which will eventually be trimmed to 26 players before the June 7 deadline, introduces some fresh faces to the international scene. Barcelona’s rising talents Lamine Yamal, 16, and Pau Cubarsi, 17, have been given the nod, alongside newcomers Fermin Lopez and former Newcastle player Ayoze Perez.
Notable exclusions from the squad include Paris St-Germain forward Marco Asensio, who boasts 38 caps but has been omitted from the roster.
Luis de la Fuente, who took over the managerial reins from Luis Enrique in December 2022, guided Spain to Nations League glory in 2023, marking their first international title in 11 years.
Spain, winners of the European Championships in 2008 and 2012, face a challenging group stage against holders Italy, Croatia, and Albania. Their campaign kicks off on June 15 against Croatia in Berlin.
Here’s the breakdown of Spain’s provisional squad:
Goalkeepers:
Alex Remiro (Real Sociedad), David Raya (Arsenal on loan from Brentford), Unai Simon (Athletic Bilbao)
Defenders:
Aymeric Laporte (Al Nassr), Robin Le Normand (Real Sociedad), Alex Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen), Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid), Dani Vivian (Athletic Bilbao), Jesus Navas (Sevilla), Nacho (Real Madrid), Cucarella (Chelsea), Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona)
Midfielders:
Mikel Merino (Real Sociedad), Fabian Ruiz (PSG), Alex Baena (Villarreal), Martin Zubimendi (Real Sociedad), Rodrigo (Manchester City), Llorente (Athletico Madrid), Pedri (Barcelona), Garcia (Girona on loan from Barcelona), Fermin (Barcelona)
Forwards:
Alvaro Morata (Atletico Madrid), Dani Olmo (RB Leipzig), Joselu (Real Madrid on loan from Espanyol), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Ayoze Perez (Real Betis), Ferran Torres (Barcelona), Williams JR (Athletic Bilbao)
