Marco Asensio can forget about the European Championship. The Paris Saint-Germain forward did not make it through the final selection by Luis de la Fuente and will be absent later this week in Las Rozas, where Spain is setting up a training camp.
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That is a significant blow for Asensio, who is not assured of a starting spot in Paris. It also feels like déjà vu, as Luis Enrique left the 38-time international at home for EURO 2020.
Interestingly, Luis Enrique is currently Asensio's coach at PSG, which adds an extra layer of complexity to his exclusion. Despite showing flashes of brilliance and having the potential to be a game-changer, Asensio's inconsistency and lack of regular playing time might have contributed to this decision.
Surprising names in the squad include Aleix García from Girona, Ayoze Perez from Real Betis, Fermín López from Barcelona, and Nacho from Real Madrid. These players have had standout seasons with their respective clubs, earning them a spot in the national team. García's dynamic midfield presence, Pérez's attacking versatility, López's promising talent, and Nacho's defensive reliability have not gone unnoticed.
Notably, Real Sociedad, along with Barcelona, is a major contributor to the squad, with both clubs providing five players each. This reflects the strong performances of these clubs in the domestic league, where they have been instrumental in their teams' successes. In total, 29 players are reporting for the training camp, which starts on Saturday. This does not include the three Real Madrid players. Dani Carvajal, Nacho, and Joselu will play the Champions League final on the same day. Aymeric Laporte will play in the Saudi Cup final with Al-Nassr a day earlier and will also join the camp later.
Spain will play friendly matches next week against Andorra and Northern Ireland. These matches will serve as a final test for the players to prove their worth. Between these matches, De la Fuente will cut the last three names from the squad, making the competition fierce and the stakes high.
In the European Championship, Spain is grouped with Italy, Albania, and Croatia. This group presents a mix of challenges, with Italy being a traditional powerhouse, Albania showing significant improvements, and Croatia known for their resilience and tactical discipline. Spain will need to be at their best to navigate this group successfully.
The 29-man Spain squad for the training camp is as follows:
Goalkeepers:
Unai Simón (Athletic Bilbao)
Álex Remiro (Real Sociedad)
David Raya (Arsenal)
Defenders:
Jesús Navas (Sevilla)
Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid)
Robin Le Normand (Real Sociedad)
Aymeric Laporte (Al-Nassr)
Nacho (Real Madrid)
Dani Vivian (Athletic Bilbao)
Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona)
Álex Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen)
Marc Cucurella (Chelsea)
Midfielders:
Martín Zubimendi (Real Sociedad)
Rodri (Manchester City)
Mikel Merino (Real Sociedad)
Fabián Ruiz (Paris Saint-Germain)
Pedri (Barcelona)
Marcos Llorente (Atlético Madrid)
Fermín López (Barcelona)
Aleix García (Girona)
Álex Baena (Villarreal)
Forwards:
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
Ferran Torres (Barcelona)
Dani Olmo (RB Leipzig)
Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao)
Ayoze Pérez (Real Betis)
Álvaro Morata (Atlético Madrid)
Joselu (Real Madrid)
Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad)
This diverse and talented squad reflects a blend of experienced players and emerging talents, setting the stage for an exciting European Championship campaign.
