Spain’s World Cup 2022 squad has been announced; will it be enough to advance to the finals in Qatar?
The squad for Spain’s World Cup 2022 has been announced, with manager Luis Enrique hoping that a mix of youth and experience will help the team win the tournament in December.
Spain has been drawn in Group E at the Qatar World Cup, where it will face Germany, Japan, and Costa Rica in potentially difficult matches.
Despite a draw and a defeat from their eight games this time around, they easily qualified for the tournament, representing one of their worst campaigns since Euro 92, the last major tournament they missed. They always have a talented squad full of elite playmakers, and they always seem to pass the opposition into drowsiness, making them arguably one of the most predictable international teams.
Even though Xavi, Iniesta, and co. have left, the possession-based philosophy that led to World Cup and Euro 2008 and 2012 success remains. Sergio Busquets is the only world champion still alive after 12 years in South Africa.
Busquets, at 34, won’t always play 90 minutes, or even start, but with Rodri as a luxury option, it doesn’t matter how Spain plays. Enrique needs Busquets on the field for crucial moments, whether it’s guiding the team to a lead at the hour mark or as a finisher to see the game out.
One of the tournament’s best midfields features Barcelona teenagers Pedri and Gavi, as well as PSG’s pugnacious Carlos Soler and Atletico Madrid’s versatile Marcos Llorente.
The rest is more difficult. Spain’s defence only conceded five goals in qualifying, but Enrique is unsure of his best lineup. Is it better to start Dani Carvajal or Cesar Azpilicueta at right back? In the centre, who will partner Aymeric Laporte: the unconvincing Eric Garcia or another left-footer in Pau Torres?
Up front, Barcelona’s top scorer in qualifying, Ferran Torres, is back on the bench, and Alvaro Morata remains unconvincing despite his last-minute winner against Portugal, which advanced La Roja to next year’s Nations League finals.
After being eliminated from major tournaments on penalties in 1986, 1996, and 2002, Spain fell victim to the same fate in Russia 2018 and Euro 2020. Fans of La Roja must be thinking, ‘Not again?
Here is the Spain’s Squad for 2022 FIFA World Cup:
| Unai Simon GK | Robert Sanchez GK | David Raya GK | Cesar Azpilicueta Def |
| Dani Carvajal Def | Eric Garcia Def | Pau Torres Def | Jordi Alba Def |
| Jose Luis Gaya Def | Hugo Guillemin Def | Aymeric Laporte Def | Sergio Busquets MID |
| Rodri MID | Gavi MID | Pedri MID | Carlos Soler MID |
| Koke MID | Marcos Llorente MID | Pablo Sarabia FWD | Nico Williams FWD |
| Marco Asensio FWD | Alvaro Morata FWD | Ferran Torres FWD | Yeremy Pino FWD |
| Danny Olmo FWD |
See More: Uruguay’s Squad For 2022 FIFA World Cup
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