Spain national team manager Luis de la Fuente has announced the squad for the March matches. Marco Asensio has once again been left out despite his impressive form for his club. Let’s take a look at the highlights of the squad and some of the reasons for the surprising absences.
Squad highlights: Two defenders return
- Iñigo Martínez
The veteran central defender from Barcelona returns to the national team for the first time since the run-up to Euro 2024. His experience will be very important to the team, especially in key matches. - Raúl de Asensio (young talent)
The young Real Madrid player Raúl de Asensio has been called up for the first time. This marks the beginning of his national team career and is a recognition of his potential.
Midfield is fiercely competitive
- Marc Casado retains his place
Marc Casado retains his place despite the excellent form of Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong. Arsenal’s Michael Merino also remains on the list. - Gavi and Valverde are unfortunate omissions
Gavi and Alejandro Valder are not in the squad, which is a blow for them. However, Marc Cucurella and Alejandro Grimaldo remain important options in defence.
Solid front line
In the front line, Villarreal’s Yerri Pino and Ayoze Perez continue to be selected. Brian Zaragoza has also been recalled for his impressive performance with Osasuna. In addition, Samu Omorodien and Alvaro Morata will compete for the starting striker position, and Real Sociedad’s Michael Oyarzabal also provides the team with additional options.
Unexpected absences: Asensio and Isco not favored
Despite his hot form at Aston Villa, Marco Asensio has been overlooked by the manager. Similarly, Real Betis’ Isco Alarcon has not been selected, despite his impressive performances for the club. These decisions are likely to spark discussion among fans and the media.
U21 national team news
- Dion Huisman in the U21
Bournemouth defender Dion Huisman has not been included in the senior squad, but has been selected for the Spanish U21 national team. The young squad also includes Gerard Martin, left-back at Barcelona, and Real Betis’ rising star Jesús Rodríguez. - Assane Diop not selected
Diallo, who has dual nationality and has been called up by Senegal, is not in either the U21 or senior squad.
Upcoming matches
Spain will face the Netherlands on March 21 in Rotterdam. The second leg will be played in Valencia on March 24. If Spain can eliminate the Netherlands, they will face the winner of the Croatia-France tie in the semifinals in June.
Summary
This squad shows De la Fuente’s attempt to strike a balance between experience and fresh blood. Although the absence of some players is surprising, the overall lineup is still very competitive. Will Spain be able to achieve good results in the next games? Let’s wait and see!
