The Spain Euro 2024 squad has now been finalised with Luis de la Fuente announcing his final 26 players.
His side made a rocky start to qualifying, losing 2-0 in Scotland on matchday two, but they won all of their remaining fixtures to top Group A. The current UEFA Nations League holders should be competitive this summer, and are generally seen as the fourth or fifth-favourites behind England, France and Germany.
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Spain – Key facts
Year founded: 1904
Nickname: La Roja
Current FIFA ranking: 8th
Highest FIFA ranking: 1st
Year of Euro debut: 1964
Best Euro performance: Winners (1964, 2008, 2012)
Player to watch: Lamine Yamal
Full Spain Euro 2024 squad
Goalkeeper
- David Raya
- Alex Remiro
- Unai Simon
Defence
- Robin Le Normand
- Dani Vivian
- Alex Grimaldo
- Jesus Navas
- Marc Cucurella
- Dani Carvajal
- Aymeric Laporte
- Nacho
Midfield
- Mikel Merino
- Fabian Ruiz
- Fermin Lopez
- Alex Baena
- Martin Zubimendi
- Rodri
- Pedri
Attack
- Alvaro Morata
- Ayoze Perez
- Ferran Torres
- Nico Williams
- Lamine Yamal
- Mikel Oyarzabal
- Dani Olmo
- Joselu
Surprise inclusions in Spain Euro 2024 squad
Ayoze Perez
Only a few months back, you’d have got long odds on Ayoze Perez being in the Spain Euro 2024 squad. The former Leicester man enjoyed a strong end to the season with Real Betis in La Liga though with five goals in his final seven games securing a first international call-up.
Even then, it seemed doubtful he’d make the final cut, but a strong performance and debut goal in the friendly win over Andorra in midweek has secured a surprise trip to Germany for the 30 year old.
Dani Vivian
Athletic centre back Dani Vivian has pipped the likes of Barcelona’s Pau Cubarsi and Aston Villa’s Pau Torres to make the final Spain Euro 2024 squad as an extra defender.
He’s had a solid season with the Basque club, but the expectation was that 17 year old Cubarsi would be selected ahead of him having broken into the Barcelona first eleven in the second half of the campaign.
In-form players for Spain
Alex Baena
Spain will have some intriguing options to use off the bench in Germany that until this point are not well known outside of La Liga.
One of those is Villarreal’s Alex Baena who registered more assists than any other player in the Spanish top flight this term with 14, including five in his final five games. That’s great form to take into the Euros, but it’s still hard to see how Baena breaks into the starting eleven.
Fermin Lopez
The same could be said of Fermin Lopez who made the final cut after an impressive end to the season at Barcelona.
The 21 year old possesses a real eye for a goal from midfield with five goals in his final seven La Liga matches and is capable of injecting energy into the game off the bench should he be called upon by Luis de la Fuente.
Spain Predicted Euro 2024 XI
Spain vs Croatia
(4-2-3-1) Simon, Grimaldo, Laporte, Le Normand, Carvajal, Rodri, Ruiz, Nico Williams, Olmo, Lamine Yamal, Morata
A 4-2-3-1 system is to be expected from Spain in their opening game but there is competition for places in a number of areas so Luis de la Fuente’s eleven is far from set in stone. Among the big calls are whether to stick with his out-of-form skipper Alvaro Morata up front and whether to go with Fabian Ruiz or Mikel Merino in midfield.
Spain vs Italy
(4-3-3) Simon, Cucurella, Laporte, Le Normand, Carvajal, Rodri, Merino, Pedri, Nico Williams, Morata, Lamine Yamal
Pedri’s fitness is being managed as Spain build into this tournament after a stop-start campaign with Barcelona, but he may come into the eleven for the big showdown against Italy on matchday two. De la Fuente could also make light changes for a slightly more solid structure with Mikel Merino and Marc Cucurella potentially coming in.
Spain vs Albania
(4-2-3-1) Simon, Grimaldo, Nacho, Le Normand, Navas, Rodri, Ruiz, Dani Olmo, Pedri, Lamine Yamal, Oyarzabal
Some rotation is to be expected by the final game, particularly if Spain have already secured qualification. Mikel Oyarzabal, fresh from a hat-trick in the friendly win over Andorra, may start up top. Nacho and Jesus Navas could also come in for their first starts of the tournament in a bid to keep everyone fresh for the knockout stage.
