Spanish starting eleven selected from eleven clubs

Spain Team celebrating after goal
Spain Team celebrating after goal

Spain vs. Noway match in the Euro qualifier, saw a diverse spectrum of talent from Spanish football in a bizarre team selection. Robert Moreno lined up Spanish starting eleven from eleven different club teams. It has been a definite shift from what we sued to see as the composition of the Spanish side, mainly consists of Big three of La Liga.

After a few big names retired or at their sunset, the Spanish team is in transition for the last few years. It had several managers during that time. The built up time under Robert Moreno is underway, with many new faces, from the veterans returning after years like Santi Cazorla to the young debutants like Pau Torres.

With qualification to Euro 2020 now almost secured, Moreno has begun to experiment even more. Against Norway, he selected 11 players from 11 different clubs, a first for Spain. Under Luis Aragones, Vicente del Bosque and Luis Enrique, Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid dominated the line-ups, but that has changed.

A brilliant start from Villarreal saw four players called up, with several others coming from abroad, while only four of the 24-man squad came from those three traditional Spanish clubs.

Kepa (Chelsea)

Kepa was selected in goal ahead of de Gea, and it was his flamboyant error, which gave Norway an injury-time penalty. This could lead to a change in keeper in the next match; de Gea or Pau Lopez has given a chance against Sweden.

Velasco-Ramos-Velasco-Navas (PSG, Real Madrid, Villarreal, and Sevilla)

Jesus Navas’ fine form has earned him an opportunity while Juan Bernat and Raul Albiol’s performances for PSG and Villarreal saw them included. Dani Carvajal and Sergio Ramos have long been two of the first names on the team-sheet. 

Busquets-Fabian-Saul (Barcelona, Napoli, and Atletico Madrid)

Once the area dominated by Barcelona, only Sergio Busquets remains in the middle of the park, with Rodri pressuring him for his place, with Saul Niguez and Fabian Ruiz also establishing themselves as regulars.

Ceballos-Oyarzabal-Rodrigo (Arsenal, Real Sociedad, and Valencia)

Rodrigo Moreno included as he becomes the more evident choice in attack despite his concerning form. He was joined in attack by Mikel Oyarzabal and Dani Ceballos on the flanks as they maintained their impressive early-season form.