As happens in every call-up for the men’s soccer team, former goalkeeper Pablo Peña provides endless information to Luis de la Fuente. Figures, references and, above all, graphs focused on potential selectable footballers that explain specific aspects of performance in their clubs and that would fit into the game model imposed on the European champion: high pressure, open play, touch, depth and finishing of the plays. For some time now, Peña has been proposing a pile of names that are not limited to the Spanish league, but rather link to the modern traveling tradition of footballers born in Spain. They are emigrants. Thus we arrive at De la Fuente’s last call-up with a view to the Nations League matches (against Denmark on Friday, in Copenhagen, 8:45 p.m., and on Monday against Switzerland, in Tenerife, 8:45 p.m.), with 26 players from of 16 teams and seven different leagues. Never before has there been such a variety of origins in the national team. There are no players from Real Madrid or Atlético (clubs with a majority of foreigners in their lineups, especially Madrid where the injured Carvajal is the only permanent player) in contrast to times not so long ago, when the white team and Barcelona were the main nutrients. In the team that won the World Cup in South Africa fourteen years ago there were eight players from Barça and five from Real Madrid. Related News standard Yes Madrid and Atlético, out of the Spanish team for the first time since 1928 Daniel Cebreiro standard No Rodri beat Vinicius by 41 votes in the Ballon d’Or Javier AsprónSomewhat more than a decade later, the wind has changed direction. In the team that won the last European Championship in Germany with full victories (seven out of seven), Real Sociedad was the team that contributed the most internationals (five). There were four from Barça and three from Real Madrid. In today’s football world of a country of clubs that heats up with the triumphs of its national team, you have to subscribe to the television platforms that Javier Tebas equates to five Michelin star restaurants to watch the summoned players. The footballers who trained yesterday in Las Rozas with a notable influx of people belong to seven different leagues. Namely and in order of number: Spain, England, France, Italy, Portugal, Germany and Saudi Arabia. A De la Fuente, who on the day of his presentation as Luis Enrique’s replacement claimed a country of 48 million players, not 48 million selectors, this matter is of little interest to them: “We do not look at the origin of the players, we only value good footballers.” Passengers of a world that rotates and that integrates its emigrants Martín Vázquezs, Spanish footballers have modified their role. Since Rafael Martín Vázquez left Real Madrid for Torino in 1990 after completing his best season in the stadium that never loved him, nothing has been the same. The midfielder was the highest paid player in ‘calcio’ and a pioneer, since until then the Spaniards acted in Spain. Powerful names such as Iván Helguera, Guardiola, Mendieta and Iván de la Peña followed him. Something similar happened in England in 1995 with ‘The Three Amigos’, three Spaniards who signed for Wigan and turned the Premier League into their life project. They were R oberto Martínez (the Portugal coach, formerly of Belgium and Everton), Jesús Seba and Isidro Díaz. Footballers who barely had a career in Spain and who made their way to the British Isles. Like Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. Or two goalkeepers summoned by De la Fuente for this event, David Raya and Robert Sánchez, who have never played in the League, only in the Premier. In 16 teams and 7 Spanish leagues. Real Sociedad (Remiro, Zubimendi, Oyarzábal), Athletic (Vivian, Paredes, Nico Williams), Barcelona (Pedri, Casadó, Olmo), Villarreal (Baena, Yeremy, Ayoze), Osasuna (Bryan Zaragoza), Girona (Bryan Gil) and Celtic (Mingueza). England. Arsenal (David Raya, Mikel Merino), Chelsea (Cucurella, Robert Sánchez), Tottenham (Pedro Porro), Aston Villa (Pau Torres), France. Fabian (PSG). Italy. Morata (Milan). Portugal. Samu (Porto). Germany. Grimaldo (Leverkusen). Saudi Arabia. Laporte (Al Nassr). De la Fuente and his staff (Pablo Amo, Juanjo González, Miguel Ángel España, Pablo Peña, Carlos Cruz and Javier López Vallejo) have dedicated themselves to technology to monitor the performance of the footballers. They are not common at airports. They travel little: “We watch more than 70 games in all leagues,” says the coach. We occasionally travel to Spain or abroad, just to see something very special. Traveling to a game makes you miss five others that you have to see later. We have tools to see everything. I want the Spanish to play in Spain, they give a higher level to the League. But playing outside enriches you in another way. The demand is different and makes you more complete. “What we are looking for is a maximum level.”
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