Spain are searching for their first international honours since 2012, but only finished second in group including Germany, Japan, and Costa Rica.
World Cup glory in 2010 was sandwiched between triumphs at Euro 2008 and 2012 but group-stage and round-of-16 exits then dulled their shine, before a Euro 2020 semi-final defeat to eventual winners Italy on penalties spoke of revival.
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Now-Wolves head coach Julen Lopetegui was sacked on the eve of Spain’s last World Cup campaign but Luis Enrique has had time to repair tensions and restore identity; his players averaged 76 per cent possession and faced the joint-fewest shots (38) in European qualifying, despite their high-risk defensive line.
An experienced squad has been buoyed by a new influx of talent, headed by Barcelona starlets Pedri and Gavi.
Enrique guided his side through qualifying as group winners and September’s late victory in Portugal — their first competitively since 1934 — secured a Nations League finals spot and a timely morale boost.
Enrique was forced into a squad change ahead of Spain’s opener against Costa Rica, with Jose Gaya withdrawing due to injury and Alejandro Balde his replacement. We will hear a lot more from Enrique throughout the tournament, with the former Barcelona coach setting up a Twitch channel to stream his thoughts on proceedings.
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Spain’s 2022 World Cup squad
Goalkeepers: Unai Simon (Athletic Bilbao), Robert Sanchez (Brighton & Hove Albion), David Raya (Brentford FC);
Defenders: Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea FC), Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid), Eric Garcia (FC Barcelona), Hugo Guillamon (Valencia CF), Pau Torres (Villarreal CF), Aymeric Laporte (Manchester City), Jordi Alba (FC Barcelona), Alejandro Balde (FC Barcelona);
Midfielders: Sergio Busquets (FC Barcelona), Rodri Hernandez (Manchester City), Gavi (FC Barcelona), Carlos Soler (Paris St Germain), Marcos Llorente (Atletico de Madrid), Pedri Gonzalez (FC Barcelona), Koke Resurreccion (Atletico de Madrid);
Forwards: Ferran Torres (FC Barcelona), Nico Williams (Athletic Club), Yeremi Pino (Villarreal CF), Alvaro Morata (Atletico de Madrid), Marco Asensio (Real Madrid), Pablo Sarabia (Paris St Germain), Dani Olmo (RB Leipzig), Ansu Fati (FC Barcelona).
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- Wednesday, November 23: Spain 7-0 Costa Rica
- Sunday, November 27: Spain 1-1 Germany
- Thursday, December 1: Japan 2-1 Spain
- Tuesday, December 6: Morocco vs Spain
Spain squad analysis
Luis Enrique’s team will be comfortable on the ball, will dominate possession, and should create plenty of chances — whether they take many of them is a different matter…
For a full analysis of their chances in Qatar, click here.
Meet The Athletic’s guest writers for the World Cup
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World Cup provisional squads explained
Read more: Spain beat Costa Rica 7-0, the country’s biggest ever World Cup win.
(Photo: Getty Images)
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