Qatar World Cup Round of 32 Tour · Group E, Spain
On November 11, Beijing time, the Spanish team announced the 26-man squad for the Qatar World Cup, led by Busquets and Moratta, and selected by Barça Golden Boy Garvey and Pedri, in addition to a number of young players, including the "glass man" Fathi who just turned 20. Compared with last year's European Championship, Enrique has formed a full squad this time and recruited Real Madrid players.
Pedri is the most expensive player in this Spanish squad.
Enrique brought Fathi with him to the outside world quite a lot of controversy. Fathi made his Barca debut at 16 years and 298 days and was seen as Messi's successor. But he has suffered multiple injuries and has scored three goals in 20 appearances for Barca this season, starting only a handful and playing just 90 minutes in one game.
But Enrique has never played his cards according to common sense, explaining at the press conference: "I didn't stop thinking about the list until the last day, last night I still had doubts about the selection of personnel on the offensive end, and it wasn't until today that I made a decision. Fathi is returning to the level he was before the injury and we will assess him to see when he can return to his former self. ”
The Spanish team has as many as eight U23 players, with an average age of just 25.6 years. And the list of losers is full of famous players such as Ramos, De Gea, Kepa and Thiago. Luis Enrique responded to this: "It's going to be the same team you've seen in recent years, it's Luis Enrique's team and we're going to stick to that style and I can guarantee that. ”
Spain coach Luis Enrique (center) in training on September 19. Xinhua News Agency
Enrique, the head of the personality coach, is eccentric, paranoid and optimistic, but has excellent business skills. Last summer he led a young Matador legion to the last four of the European Championship amid boos from local fans. On the way to Qatar, Spain also performed very solidly, scoring 19 points in eight rounds of the World Preliminary Round to finish first in the group. In the UEFA Nations League, they not only swept Germany 6-0 and pushed Löw out of class, but also beat Portugal to reach the UEFA Nations League semi-finals in September.
Enrique's Matador legion has distinct Barça DNA. There are seven Barça players in Spain's 26-man squad this time: Pedri, Garvey, Fati, Busquets, Ferran Torres, Eric Garcia and Alba. Real Madrid have Asensio and Carvajal selected. You know, Luis Enrique didn't bring even one player from Real Madrid in last year's Euro.
Spain's Gavi (right) fights with Switzerland's Froyler on June 9. On the same day, in the UEFA Nations League group stage, Spain won 1-0 away against Switzerland. Xinhua News Agency
The only players left in the Spanish squad when they won the 2010 World Cup were Busquets and Alba, and the rest have been replaced by new players. Professor Boo, 34, will be sidelined by teenagers DePerry and Garvey in midfield.
Pedri, who is under 20, was last year's winner of the Kopa Awards, the European Golden Boy Award and the European Championship for Best Young Player. The 18-year-old Garvey is the winner of the ST European Golden Boy Award and the Kopa Award. Pedri is hailed as the successor to the white Iniesta, while Garvey is considered "the next Xavi." The Barca golden boy is the mainstay of Spain's current and future midfield.
With Eric Garcia almost locked in the main central defender and Ferran Torres continuing to attack the main winger, if there are no surprises, Spain will retain Barça's central pillar. Of course, Enrique will certainly not give Ferran Torres a regular iron force just because he is his daughter's boyfriend.
Spain player Morata celebrates scoring on 27 September. On the same day, in the UEFA Nations League group stage, Spain won 1-0 away against Portugal. Xinhua News Agency
The forward line is the hardest hit by the Spanish team's slot points. At the European Championship, the problem of "powerlessness" has always enveloped the Spanish team, and even if the final game of the group stage is won by five goals, the problem of traditional strikers not scoring goals is still unresolved. So on the one hand, the home fans booed Morata and even issued "death threats" to his family, and on the other hand, Enrique almost paranoid support. In the past year, Spain has scored more than two goals in only one game in all competitions. During this period, the team's goalscorer king was Morata, who was repeatedly criticized for "double reverse foot" in the club. But what is certain is that Morata will not score again, and the main position is none other than him.
Although Spain is the seeded team in this group and also has a psychological advantage over Germany, in this "double strength" group, it is not easy to qualify. This is the third consecutive time since winning the title in 2010 that Spain has faced such a group. In 2014, they faced the Netherlands in the group stage, losing 1-5 in the first round and finally knocking out of the group; In 2018, Spain collided with Ferbilian neighbours Portugal to make it 3-3, with Spain not winning the last two World Cups against the traditional powerhouses of the group.
Enrique, who never plays according to the usual routine, will take the Spanish team this time?
Nandu reporter Tao Xinlei
Spain group stage schedule
24 November 0:00 Spain vs Costa Rica
28 November 3:00 Spain vs Germany
2 Dec 3:00 Spain vs Japan