The Spanish Football Association has announced the names and numbers of the European Championship selection. It is striking that shirt number fifteen has not been assigned to any player. according to ASH the entire selection deliberately did not choose this jersey number, in order to express their respect towards the absent one hundred and eighty-time international Sergio Ramos. The Real Madrid defender played many international matches with that number on his back.
Ramos had to miss almost the entire second half of the season due to injuries. During Real Madrid’s last league match against Villarreal (2-1 win), he was back on the reserve bench, although he did not play. The 35-year-old center defender is still chasing the record number of international matches, which is still in the name of the Egyptian Ahmed Hassan: 184 pieces. Ramos therefore needs four more international matches to equal this record and played two more games for Spain in March: one as a basic player and one as a substitute. In the World Cup qualifier against Georgia, won 1-2, he was on the reserve bench for 90 minutes.
The names and numbers of the Spaniards for the European Championship.
“It is a decision that we have thought about for a long time. I spoke to him at halftime of the match between Real Madrid and Sevilla. We mainly talked about his physical condition. I will keep the content of the conversation we had yesterday private. It is not easy to convey something that is not positive for him. I have to do what is best for the team,” said national coach Luis Enrique about the absence of Ramos, who may have played his last game for Real Madrid. The defender has an expiring contract and he looks set to leave on a free transfer. According to English media, Manchester City is interested.
Due to the absence of Ramos, Dani Carvajal, Nacho Fernandez, Álvaro Odriozola, Isco, Lucas Vazquez and Marco Asensio, no Real Madrid player has been included in the Spanish European Championship squad. Spain, which did not get further than the eighth final at EURO 2016, does not have to fear Zlatan Ibrahimovic if Sweden is the first opponent on June 14. The injured AC Milan striker is not fit in time. The other opponents for the Spaniards are Poland (June 19) and Slovakia (June 23). All group matches are played in Seville.
Goalkeepers: Unai Simon (Athletic Club), David de Gea (Manchester United), Robert Sanchez (Brighton & Hove Albion)
Defenders: Jose Gaya (Valencia), Jordi Alba (Barcelona), Pau Torres (Villarreal), Aymeric Laporte (Manchester City), Eric Garcia (Manchester City), Diego Llorente (Leeds United), César Azpilicueta (Chelsea), Marcos Llorente (Atletico Madrid ).
Midfielders: Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Rodri (Manchester City), Pedri (Barcelona), Thiago (Liverpool), Koke (Atletico Madrid), Fabian Ruiz (Napoli)
Attackers: Dani Olmo (RB Leipzig), Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Alvaro Morata (Juventus), Gerard Moreno (Villarreal), Ferran Torres (Manchester City), Adama Traoré (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Pablo Sarabia (Paris Saint-Germain)
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