Spain coach Luis Enrique has called West Ham star Pablo Fornals, Braga forward Abel Ruiz and ex-Newcastle midfielder Mikel Merino into his first squad since Euro 2020.
Barcelona prodigy Pedri is not included in the list selected for the September international break, with Enrique sympathetic to the fears that the 18-year-old needs rest after playing over 70 games for club and country since the start of last season.
The squad, which will face Sweden, Georgia and Kosovo in a triple header of World Cup qualifying matches, is largely the same as one chosen for Euro 2020.
Inigo Martinez, Brais Mendez, Carlos Soler and veteran defender Raul Albiol are the other players who have been added who didn’t go to the tournament.
As well as Pedri missing out from the Euro 2020 squad, Thiago Alcantara, Pau Torres, Diego Llorente, Fabian Ruiz, Dani Olmo and Mikel Oyarzabal have been left out on this occasion.
? OFICIAL | @LUISENRIQUE21 pasa lista en la 'vuelta al cole' de nuestros internacionales.
— Selección Española de Fútbol (@SeFutbol) August 26, 2021
? Estos son los futbolistas convocados para los tres próximos encuentros de la @SeFutbol en la Fase de Clasificación a #Qatar2022.
?? ¡Comienza un nuevo curso!
?? ¡¡#VamosEspaña!! pic.twitter.com/J6fAcZdp8O
24-player Spain squad to face Sweden, Georgia & Kosovo
Goalkeepers: Unai Simon (Athletic Club), David de Gea (Man Utd), Robert Sanchez (Brighton)
Defenders: Jordi Alba (Barcelona), Jose Gaya (Valencia), Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea), Marcos Llorente (Atletico Madrid), Eric Garcia (Barcelona), Aymeric Laporte (Man City), Inigo Martinez (Athletic Club), Raul Albiol (Villarreal)
Midfielders: Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Rodri (Man City), Koke (Atletico Madrid), Mikel Merino (Real Sociedad), Carlos Soler (Valencia), Brais Mendez (Celta Vigo)
Forwards: Pablo Fornals (West Ham), Pablo Sarabia (PSG), Ferran Torres (Man City), Adama Traore (Wolves), Alvaro Morata (Juventus), Gerard Moreno (Villarreal), Abel Ruiz (Braga)
Spain currently lead their World Cup qualifying group after taking seven points from their opening three games. La Roja are one point ahead of Sweden, who are in turn four points clear of Greece.
Only one team will automatically qualify for the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar, with the runner-up advancing to the second round qualifying tournament.
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Source : 90min