luis de la Fuente refines the list of 55 players that must be delivered to UEFA on May 11. An important choice, because from that first cut the 26 that on June 1 will be made official as World Cup winners.
The selector has his block formed. For a long time. The route of their calls explains many things. But he has always made it clear that there are open doors.
The figure of Gavi has been triggered. It is not an emergence, because for De la Fuente he is a first unit player. Until the serious injury he suffered in Valladolid in the Spain-Georgia As of November 2023, Gavi had played ten of the Riojan’s eleven games. Of them, nine as starters.
Gavi: “I’m happy to be back, I felt very good”
After overcoming the damage he suffered to his right knee, De la Fuente had Gavi as soon as he could. He was among the 26 in the Nations League – he played one minute against France – and made the September list, although before the training camp he had to stop and undergo surgery again.
Now, at the gates of the World Cup, Gavi He regains his sensations under Flick’s command and his chances of becoming a World Cup player again grow, because at the age of 18 he was already in Qatar and started every game.
Gavi is the youngest player to play for Spain in a World Cup. And also in marking. At 18 years old and 110, he played against Costa Rica in Qatar. In that explosive Spanish debut (7-0), the signing of the team’s fifth goal was his.
Goal by Gavi (5-0) in Spain 7-0 Costa Rica
De la Fuente has never hidden that for him Gavi is a very important player in the gears of his national team.
The injured
The season enters a stretch in which an injury can take its toll. World past. Last week two alarms went off.
First was the injury of Lamine Yamal. The deadlines allow for it to be in the World Cup. Barcelona and the national team are in permanent contact, agreeing that the winger will be a World Cup player, but disagreeing on how to adjust the return deadlines.
Lamine Yamal’s injury: goodbye to the season and countdown to be in the World Cup
May Spain’s first match be against Cape Verde expands the security zone for those who can arrive more fairly.
The second case is that of Pablo Barrios. And that one has a worse face. Because it is a muscle injury that will keep him out of work for a month. And because it adds to a history of biomechanical muscle problems that since February has only allowed him to play three games. The problem is no longer that he is recovered for the World, but in a risk of relapse that is a reality.
Meanwhile, there are three sources of positive news: Mikel Merino, Fabián Ruiz and Nico Williams. Arsenal’s Navarrese player is progressing well ahead of the expected deadlines. It was a delicate and worrying injury, but now the certainty that he will reach the World Cup is almost absolute.
In Paris, Fabian He takes flight after the fissure in his left knee that had him suffering since January.
This was the return of Nico Williams
And in Athletic, Nico Williams he forgets about the pubalgia that brought him to the brink of the operating room. He has been playing for a month and in each game he adds more minutes and is closer to the explosive winger who gives so much to Athletic and the national team.
Carvajal, out of time
For months now, the selection has been expected to Dani Carvajal took flight in Madrid. But time and minutes have passed for the dominant side in the Euro and fundamental for From the Source they have not arrived.
It is a delicate position, for specialists and with hardly any room to take risks. There is hardly any time left for Carvajal to question a position that is now Marcos Llorente and Pedro Porro.
In other areas where there are questions, there are players who win big to be among the 26. For example, Joan García and Le Normand.
They will watch the Champions League final together
On Saturday, May 30, the concentration of the Spanish team will begin. As happened in 2024, Luis de la Fuente has designed a roadmap that starts with those called up watching the Champions League final together. There will surely be a presence of World Cup players, whether those called up for Atlético de Madrid or those who play for Arsenal.
