On May 27th, Spanish head coach Luis de la Fuente unveiled a 29-man preliminary squad for the Euros, featuring players like Nacho, Femenía, Llorente, and Ayuso, among others. The final roster, which will consist of 26 players, is expected to be announced before the friendly match against Northern Ireland on June 7th.
Due to the temporary unavailability of key players—Carvajal, Nacho, and José卢 from Real Madrid (owing to the Champions League final) and Laporte (due to the Arab Cup final), de la Fuente expanded the squad. The announcement was made during an event that celebrated former Euro champions Iribar, Capdevila, and Fernando Torres, who contributed to Spain’s triumphs in 1964, 2008, and 2012.
The team will start its training camp in Las Rozas on June 5th, with a friendly against Andorra, followed by the final 26-man squad declaration. They will then face Northern Ireland in Mallorca as their last preparatory match. Spain will then travel to Germany for the Euros, where they have been drawn into a challenging group with Croatia, Italy, and Albania.
During the qualifiers, de la Fuente called up 49 players, but unfortunately, four, including Gavi, Balde, Gayà, and Yeremy Pino, were ruled out due to injuries. Despite impressive performances, Isco and Borja Mayoral also missed out due to fitness concerns. The coach has been particularly cautious with forwards, trying out 19 different options to find the right striker to complement wingers like Yeremi and Nico Williams.
In defense, 18 players were assessed, especially due to injury issues and uncertainty at right-back. The goalkeeper position was more stable, with only five players considered, three of whom will make the trip, leaving Robert Sanchez and Kepa on the sidelines. Midfield, the most settled area, saw only 11 players called up during this period.
Bar?a has significantly contributed to the squad with talents such as Pedri, Ferran Torres, Frenkie de Jong, Ale?a, and Riqui Puig, highlighting the strength of their youth academy. Besides Torres, these players represent some of the brightest young stars in European football, with their development influenced by former manager Xavi’s coaching philosophy. The unfortunate exclusion of the highly promising midfielder Gavi due to a severe knee injury is a blow for fans worldwide.
The current Spanish national team combines youthful exuberance with seasoned experience, creating a well-balanced and competitive unit. Looking ahead to the 2024 Euros, Spain finds itself in a daunting group alongside Italy, Croatia, and Albania. With a record of reaching the semi-finals in three previous tournaments and securing a third-place finish, they aim to go further and reclaim past glory. Under de la Fuente’s guidance, the team will use the upcoming friendlies to fine-tune their preparations for the demanding Euro challenge.