About a month and a half to go and then the time has come: the 2024 European Championship in Germany. The group divisions have now been announced, the schedule has been completed and so it is now up to the national coaches to make decisions. Which 23 (or 26) players will they take with them to the final tournament, and who will they leave at home? This will be announced no later than June 7, but zoom will take place in the coming period Football zone in advance about the options that the national coaches of the most important countries have. In this edition: Spain.

Spain had a great period ten to fifteen years ago, when they successively won the 2008 European Championship, the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 European Championship. But success does not last indefinitely: a bad period began, and at the 2022 World Cup, for example, the country was eliminated by Morocco in the eighth finals.

That cost the then national coach Luis Enrique his job. Luis de la Fuente became his successor, while the last few players of the 'golden generation' retired: Sergio Busquets, Sergio Ramos and Jordi Alba have now ended their international careers.

With a new group, combining talent and experience, De La Fuente is performing well so far. Last summer Spain even won the Nations League by beating Croatia on penalties. This year the country is going for a new prize: the fourth European title. That will not be easy, because in the group stage, Spain, for example, has to deal with defending champion Italy, Nations League finalist Croatia and Albania. Which players will De la Fuente try to do that with? Football zone looks ahead.

Goalkeepers

Ahead of the 2021 European Championship, Unai Simón was chosen as Spain's new first goalkeeper, and he has retained that role ever since. Yet the competition is not easy, including Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya. Simón will therefore have to continue to perform well at his club Athletic Bilbao to be the first goalkeeper in Germany next summer.

Meanwhile, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Robert Sánchez have lost their place under the bar at Real Madrid and Chelsea respectively, and therefore the question is whether they will be included in the European Championship selection. Álex Remiro, who made his international debut against Colombia in March (0-1 defeat), can therefore continue to hope.

Options: Kepa Arrizabalaga (Real Madrid), David Raya (Arsenal), Álex Remiro (Real Sociedad), Robert Sánchez (Chelsea), Unai Simón (Athletic Club).

Unai Simón has been Spain's regular goalkeeper for a few years.

Defenders

Despite the fact that he transferred from Manchester City to the Saudi Arabian Al-Nassr last summer, Aymeric Laporte seems to be able to count on a starting place at the European Championship. He will probably form the center of the defense with Robin Le Normand or Pau Torres.

The back positions can also be predicted with a fair degree of certainty. Alejandro Grimaldo's excellent season at Bayer Leverkusen looks set to be rewarded with a starting spot on the left, while Dani Caravajal is likely to be preferred to Pedro Porro at right-back.

The only seventeen-year-old Pau Cubarsí can also dream of a place in the European Championship selection. The talent broke through this season at FC Barcelona, ​​and made his international debut against Colombia in March. Jesús Navas (38 years old), 21 years older, could also be there next summer.

Options: Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid), Pau Cubarsí (FC Barcelona), Marc Cucurella (Chelsea), José Gayà (Valencia), Alejandro Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen), Aymeric Laporte (Al-Nassr), Robin Le Normand (Real Sociedad), Jesús Navas (Seville), Pedro Porro (Tottenham Hotspur), Pau Torres (Aston Villa), Dani Vivian (Athletic Club).

Alejandro Grimaldo, here in a duel with Jhon Arias (Colombia), became national champion with Bayer Leverkusen this season and can hope for a starting place at the European Championship.

Midfielders

There is little doubt about who the best player in Spain is heading into the European Championship: Rodri is invaluable to Manchester City as a defensive midfielder, while he is also important up front with a decisive goal.

Which players will form the midfield together with Rodri next summer in Germany partly depends on Pedri's fitness. The FC Barcelona midfielder has not been called up since the 2022 World Cup, partly due to injuries, but can be of great value when he is fit.

Fermín López, Pedri's teammate at Barcelona, ​​has yet to make his international debut but is also an option in midfield. Moreover, De la Fuente could reward Fabián Ruiz for some excellent performances at his club Paris Saint-Germain.

Options: Álex Baena (Villarreal), Aleix García (Girona), Fermín López (FC Barcelona), Mikel Merino (Real Sociedad), Pedri (FC Barcelona), Rodri (Manchester City), Fabián Ruiz (Paris Saint-Germain), Oihan Sancet ( Athletic Club), Martín Zubimendi (Real Sociedad).

The last time Pedri was in the Spanish squad was in 2022.

Attackers

Sixteen-year-old Lamine Yamal is perhaps the best young player in Europe this season. If he manages to stay fit in the coming weeks at FC Barcelona, ​​there is a good chance that he will be in the starting line-up for Spain this summer.

It is also quite certain who will start at rush hour: Álvaro Morata. There is still a little more uncertainty about the left winger position. Dani Olmo could play there, but seems more effective in an attacking midfielder role. Partly because of this, Nico Williams, who is of great value to Copa del Rey winner Athletic Club this season, also has a good chance.

Ferran Torres, who has already scored quite a few goals for Barcelona this season, is also an option. However, it is expected that he will have to make do with a role as a substitute.

Options: Joselu (Real Madrid), Álvaro Morata (Atlético Madrid), Gerard Moreno (Villarreal), Dani Olmo (RB Leipzig), Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Pablo Sarabia (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Ferran Torres (FC Barcelona), Nico Williams ( Athletic Club), Lamine Yamal (FC Barcelona).

Lamine Yamal (16 years old): the talent of Spain.

Probable setup

De la Fuente has varied a lot in terms of starting lineups lately, and there are therefore only a few players who have played almost all the time. If they stay fit, players like Yamal, Rodri and Carvajal can certainly count on a starting spot.

De la Fuente chose to play in a 4-3-3 formation for a long time, but tried out 4-2-3-1 during the recent international match. It is quite possible that he will also choose that line-up at the European Championships. Spain's expected starting eleven next summer largely corresponds to the line-up against Brazil (3-3) in March. Key differences are that Grimaldo seems to be preferred to Marc Cucurella as left back, and Pedri could play instead of Ruiz.

Probable European Championship line-up Spain: Simon; Carvajal, Le Normand, Laporte, Grimaldo; Pedri, Rodri; Yamal, Olmo, Williams; Morata.

Important absentees

De la Fuente already knows that he will miss two important players at the European Championships next summer. Gavi would almost certainly play every minute, but tore his cruciate ligament during the international match against Georgia (3-1 win) in November. As a result, he did not recover in time to go to Germany with Spain.

Baldé is also almost certainly not fit in time for the final tournament. He underwent surgery at the beginning of this year after a serious hamstring injury and does not appear to be in action again this season.

Absent: Alejandro Baldé (FC Barcelona), Gavi (FC Barcelona).

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