Spain: an unsurprising list, all about La Roja at the 2022 World Cup

Since their title in 2010 and the end of the Puyol, Xavi and Iniesta generation, the Spaniards have experienced a low period.

Eliminated in the first round of the 2014 World Cup, La Roja could only play in the round of 16 at the last World Cup.

However, the Fifa ranking places Spain still in the top 6 with an outsider status, especially since its semi-final at Euro 2021.

The story

Apart from the year of their title, Spain have never reached the semi-finals in the World Cup in all their history.

Form of the Spain team

First in their group in the League of Nations after beating Portugal (0-1) in the last match, Spain qualified for the Final Four of the competition.

And apart from a misstep against Switzerland (1-2 defeat), La Roja remains on nine games without defeat, its last loss dating back to the final of the League of Nations 2021, against France (1-2).

The Spaniards are therefore on an excellent dynamic which places them as favorites of their group at the World Cup, especially with a Germany not in top form.

The list of 26 selected players

Despite limited playing time, Pablo Sarabia and Carlos Soler, Aymeric Laporte and Ansu Fati will be in Qatar.

With the Barcelonan, Nico Williams or Yeremi Pino, the attack is getting a facelift.

Hugo Guillamon (Valence), only three caps on the clock, is also on the list.

• Goalkeepers:

  Unai Simón (Athletic Bilbao/ESP), Robert Sánchez (Brighton/ENG), David Raya (Brentford/ENG)

• Defenders:

  Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid/ESP), César Azpilicueta (Chelsea/ENG), Eric García (FC Barcelona/ESP), Hugo Guillamon (Valencia CF/ESP), Pau Torres (Villarreal/ESP), Aymeric Laporte (Manchester City /ENG), Jordi Alba (FC Barcelona/ESP), José Gaya (Valencia CF/ESP)

• Midfielders:

  Sergio Busquets (FC Barcelona/ESP), Rodri (Manchester City/ENG), Gavi (FC Barcelona/ESP), Carlos Soler (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), Marcos Llorente (Atlético Madrid/ESP), Pedri (FC Barcelona/ESP), Koke (Atlético Madrid/ESP)

• Forwards:

  Ferran Torres (FC Barcelona/ESP), Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao/ESP), Yeremi Pino (Villarreal/ESP), Álvaro Morata (Atlético Madrid/ESP), Marco Asensio (Real Madrid/ESP), Pablo Sarabia (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), Dani Olmo (RB Leipzig/GER), Ansu Fati (FC Barcelona/ESP)

The probable composition

LP

With Jordi Alba, Éric Garcia, Sergio Busquets, Pedri, Gavi and Ferran Torres, Spain should field a team with Catalan accents, with potentially their 6 Barcelonans in the starting 11.

A structure that allows Luis Enrique to rely on players who know each other particularly well and perform at the start of the season, Barça being leaders in La Liga before the break.

Player to watch: Pedri

On March 26, 2022, Pedri, a Spanish midfielder, faced Albania in a friendly match.

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It is unquestionably the nugget of La Roja.

Midfielder of FC Barcelona, ​​​​Pedri is one of the main architects of the Blaugrana reconstruction at the height of his 19 years.

In constant progression, he revitalizes a midfielder which often tended to go back from the back last season, in particular under the impetus of Sergio Busquets.

And even if he comes into play more often than he starts, his impact is visible in the animation of the Barcelona midfield.

The schedule of the matches of the Spanish team