Spain is already concentrated in the Ciudad del Fútbol of Las Rozas for the three matches that it will play in this national team break. As happened in September, La Roja will create a bubble in its place of concentration to avoid any contagion. The security measures will be rigorous so that no contact is maintained with anyone outside the expedition, the closed-door training sessions and the telematic press conferences.
Among those summoned there has been a significant last-minute drop: Fabián Ruiz will not be able to join as he has to serve quarantine due to the positives that appeared in Naples. Luis Enrique has decided not to cover the loss of the midfielder, so 24 will finally be called up. In this way, the coach has two important casualties in the center of the field, because Thiago (positive for Covid-19) is not there either. Both were starters in the first Nations League game, against Germany in Stuttgart last month (1-1).
La Roja will play more than usual in this break, because they will play three games. The first of them will be a friendly match against Portugal on Wednesday (8:45 pm) at the José Alvalade. The internationals will travel the same day of the meeting. The next, now official (third in the Nations League), will be on Saturday October 10 against Switzerland at the Alfredo Di Stéfano (8:45 pm), the same match that hosted the duel against Ukraine. Finally, on Tuesday, October 13, Spain will play against Ukraine at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev (8:45 pm) for its fourth Nations League match.
Luis Enrique will start preparing these matches from this afternoon, since at 7:00 p.m. this Monday the first training session for La Roja is scheduled. A session that is traditionally held open to the public but that on this occasion, for obvious reasons given the health situation, will be closed.
Campaign: “I hope I am not the only one”
Upon reaching the concentration, three players made brief statements to the official media of the National Team.
Bell: “I am happy for this first call, I hope that the work serves so that it is not the only one.”
Channels: “I am very happy, it is a privilege to be here. I am looking forward to it.”
Sergi Roberto: “Very happy to return to the National Team. Unfortunately it was due to the injury of a teammate but I am happy that the coach has counted on me.”
The Italian Paolo Valeri will lead the friendly Portugal-Spain
The Italian referee Paolo Valeri will be the main referee of the friendly match that the Spanish team will play this Wednesday at the José Alvalade stadium in Lisbon against Portugal.
Valeri, born on May 16, 1978 in Rome, made his professional football debut in 2007 directing the Italian Super Cup. He has been appointed as the main referee for the Iberian derby, assisted in bands by Matteo Passeri and Alessandro Costanzo, with Portuguese Tiago Martins as the fourth referee.