MADRID, 21 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Last Sunday, the Spanish soccer team closed its qualifying phase for next year’s European Championship in Germany, a path for which the national coach Luis de la Fuente has given minutes to 40 footballers and has been forming what seems to be the backbone of his team ahead of the continental event.
The player most used by the Riojan coach has been the Manchester City midfielder, Rodri Hernandez. The 4th classified in the 2023 Ballon d’Or is the leader of this team, honors that the coach has also given him on the field of play. In addition to being the player who has enjoyed the most minutes (608′), the ’16’ is the one who has completed the most passes (645) and has recovered the most balls (54).
Along with the Manchester City midfielder, Unai Simón, Dani Carvajal, the central pair Laporte-Le Normand, Gavi and Álvaro Morata They have completed this so-called backbone of the team throughout the qualifying phase. The Athletic Club goalkeeper is the undisputed starter for De la Fuente, and, throughout the qualification, he has enjoyed five starts, since he missed the first list due to injury and did not play against Cyprus, in which he conceded two goals .
In defence, Dani Carvajal has been the player with the most accumulated minutes with 586 despite the competition from Jesus Navasbeing next to Gavi, which totaled 488, the only ones who have participated in the eight games played, six as starters. Furthermore, another of the great certainties that the qualifying phase has left is the new pair of centre-backs formed by Aymeric Laporte y Robin Le Normand, which has been the most used by Haro with 450 minutes played in this qualifying phase and together in three games, a duo that was formed in the ‘F4’ of the Nations League when the Real Sociedad team debuted.
Where the coach’s choice has not been so clear has been in the left back position. With the withdrawal of Jordi Alba from the national team, the undisputed starter during Luis Enrique’s time and until ‘F4’, the shortlist for that position opened. José Luis Gayá He has been the most used with 331 minutes and started four games, two more than the youngster. Alejandro Balde. Along with them, the Riojan also made his debut with the ‘Roja’ Fran García and Alejandro Grimaldo.
In the core, Rodri He is the general captain of the ship, established as the team’s football leader after the goodbye of Sergio Busquets and dictating the pace at which Spain must play. Furthermore, if the coach has made something clear during the qualifying phase, it is the recovery of the double pivot where both Mikel Merino as Fabian Ruiz They have accompanied the Madrid native.
The Real Sociedad midfielder, who has scored a goal and provided an assist in 372 minutes, is the second Spanish player who has won the most duels (25), while the PSG player has played fewer (279), with two assists and generating four chances. Both have had the freedom to step into the area a lot, especially the Andalusian.
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And if the midfielder had master and lord, the midfielder has also been the territory of a single player: Gavi. The young Barça youth squad has been one of the great strongholds of Spain in the qualifying phase, in which he has contributed two goals, in addition to many of the intangibles of his football, such as the beginning of the pressure, although both against Norway As against Scotland, it started more heeled and the coach decided to modify it from there.
However, Luis de la Fuente’s plans have been ruined by the serious injury suffered by the Andalusian player in the last match against Georgia, which will mean he will be off the pitch for the remainder of the season and will not be able to be in the EURO, which raises a question about who can play their role. His replacement could be Pedrian unprecedented player in this qualifying phase due to physical problems, Jungle Sanceta player with the most goals, or Dani Olmo.
As for the front, Álvaro Morata He has been the attacking player with the most participation. De la Fuente has conveyed the same confidence that Luis Enrique had and the Atlético de Madrid player has responded with four goals, being along with Joselu, author of the same figure, the top scorers in this phase. Special mention also deserves the Real Madrid forward, who also gave two assists to be the player with the most participation in goals, making very good use of the 234 minutes that he has enjoyed.
In the scoring section, Spain has managed to involve 12 players and in addition to their two ‘9’ they also saw the door Ferran Torres, Dani Olmo, Lamine Yamal, Gavi, Álex Baena, Sancet, Mikel Oyarzabal, Nico Williams, Merino and Le Normand. Only France, with 13, surpasses the ‘Red’ in this diversity.
De la Fuente was clear about playing up front with a reference forward supported by more wing players with different profiles. Vertical, skilled and daring players like Nico Williams, Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Ferran Torres, Marco Asensio or Bryan Zaragoza They have been protagonists throughout the qualifying phase. Although without a doubt, Athletic’s player has been the one who has scored at the best level with one goal, three assists, 13 chances created and 23 crosses into the area.
For its part, Lamine Yamal, who became the debutant and youngest scorer in the history of the national team, has completed the most dribbles during qualifying with 10, while Ferran Torreswith three goals and one assist is, along with Williamsthe winger who has participated in the most goals.