Luis de la Fuente's list for the matches against Cyprus in Limassol on Thursday the 16th and Georgia in Valladolid, on Sunday the 19th, qualifiers for the next Euro Cup in Germany, came yesterday with news. As suspected, Aleix Garcia, the captain of Girona, entered it and is the first player from the Montilivi club who will be able to make his debut in a senior team match. The other new additions to the squad are Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen), Riquelme (Atlético) and Remiro (Real Sociedad). Spain has already qualified since its victory in the last match in Norway.
As planned, Barça's Pedri is not on the list, having recently recovered from his injury. The injured Kepa, Laporte, Olmo, Asensio and Yeremi Pino are also not there. Iñigo Martínez returns and the rest of the Blaugranas are Gavi, Ferran Torres and Lamine Yamal. Bucket is not in the call either.
The coach commented on why he has not included Pedri: “He has just come back from a long injury and we know each other perfectly. We count on him for everything. When he improves he will have the opportunity to join. He is a super class.” About Balde he said: “He is one more and I encourage him to continue working.”
De la Fuente justified his list in this way; “I know that I am unfair to those who do not come, but very fair to those who come. As my admired Vicente del Bosque said, the bad luck is that I have more players than positions to cover. They are all very good and there is no gap. Nothing is given to anyone here.” Then he explained the red one he wants: “I am not a hostage to any system. The important thing is the model, the idea, being recognizable, which is the strength of the selection.”
The coach spoke about his work: “Making a list is very complex. You have to value many things, an essential aspect is that they are good people to fulfill the magic word that is team.”
De la Fuente's contract ends on June 30 and does not want to talk about its possible renewal, despite the fact that the Euro Cup is held between June 14 and July 14: “I am where I want to be. I'm happy. When it is appropriate to negotiate, which is not the time now, if both parties agree, both parties are happy. If not, nothing happens. The door closes and see you later,” he stated.
De la Fuente sees the Euro Cup block already done: “I have no doubts about the next calls. I think we have a very formed block. There will surely be casualties, but the bloc is formed,” he insisted. “There are others who have not been able to come, but they will knock on the door, and it is something we have to be proud of, that great players are left out.”
