Revolution or sweet transition for De la Fuente?

MADRID, 2 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) -

With the arrival of March, the return to action of the Spanish soccer team is coming, marked by the debut of its new 'captain', Luis de la Fuente, who in just over two weeks will give his first list as coach for the matches against Norway and Scotland, corresponding to the start of the qualifying phase for the Eurocup in Germany in 2024.

The La Rioja coach rose from the Under-21, where he had a successful period, to the Absolute as relief of Luis Enrique Martínez, who was not renewed and who had a fairly configured block that did not work for him in the last World Cup in Qatar.

Now, more than two months after being appointed, the man from Haro has already been warning that he had his first call more or less clear and it will be the first sketch of what he wants, if a 'revolution' with many new features with players he knows well and that they were left out of the Asturian's plans for various reasons or opt for a more 'sweet' first transition. We analyze De la Fuente's options line by line.

1. Goal. After a fight with David de Gea, Unai Simón finally took ownership before the Eurocup. The Athletic Club goalkeeper has a sore Achilles tendon, but if he is healthy he seems the first option for a coach who knows him well. Luis Enrique looked to the Premier League to complete his shortlist with Robert Sánchez (Brighton) and David Raya (Brentford) and it remains to be seen if De la Fuente will keep them since apparently he does not have a wide range to choose from or opts for something new like Alex Remiro (Royal Society).

2. Defense. An area where there could be several changes compared to Qatar. Once the question of Sergio Ramos and his possible return have been cleared up, the man from La Rioja must decide if he continues to have players like Eric García, relegated to a very secondary role at Barça, Aymeric Laporte, who has not played much this season with City, or Hugo Guillamón, far from his best level and more midfielder in Valencia.

The media have informed these days of the possible call-up of the Spanish-French Robin Le Normand, a Real Sociedad player who is shining this season. Yeray Álvarez could also be an alternative due to his great season with Athletic Club, or Real Madrid player Nacho Fernández, endorsed by his versatility and his recent good performances. He can also cover that gap by 'lowering' Rodri Hernández, who scored at a high level as a central defender in the World Cup.

In addition, De la Fuente has to study how he configures his full-backs and if he keeps one of the veterans like Jordi Alba, who shares minutes with Alejandro Balde at Barça, on the left where José Luis Gayà is injured. Alejandro Grimaldo, at a high level at Benfica, and the rayista Fran García could be options, while on the right he theoretically has fewer options.

3. Midfield. The new coach could also give a new air to the creation zone, where he hopes to have Pedri González, injured, but who seems to be ready to enter the squad, and where he has lost a benchmark such as captain Sergio Busquets. The 'centennial' gap opens the opportunity for Rodri Hernández to take over the position of '5' and the possible call-up of the Real Sociedad midfielder Martín Zubimendi.

De la Fuente could bring back to the 'Red' other players that he knows well from his time in the Under-21, such as Real Madrid player Dani Ceballos, now with participation and a good level at present, French PSG player Fabián Ruiz or the realist Mikel Merino. They can be joined by one of the great surprises of this campaign, the young Celta player Gabri Veiga, who has already scored eight goals, the same as Oihan Sancet who is performing from the second line in his new position at Athletic Club. With Gavi surely fixed, players like Koke Resurrección, Carlos Soler or Marcos Llorente could fall out of this first call.

4. Front. There are also doubts about what De la Fuente has in mind and if he will bet on more '9' of the so-called 'pure' since Luis Enrique only took Álvaro Morata to the World Cup of that profile, whose participation has decreased in Atlético de Madrid, although it does not seem that his place is going to be in danger. In addition, now the best national scorers such as Borja Iglesias, Gerard Moreno or Joselu, these two coming out of injuries, are not as successful as before the World Cup, which could open the doors to Abel Ruiz, the '9' of the Sub-21, or the return of a key player like Mikel Oyarzabal, used to playing there as a 'false 9' with De la Fuente and Luis Enrique.

Regarding the attacking wing players, one of the big doubts is whether or not the man from La Rioja will call an Ansu Fati who still hasn't found his best version of yesteryear, but on whom there is still a lot of hope. Marco Asensio, Dani Olmo, who is currently out due to a muscle injury, Ferran Torres, Yéremi Pino and Nico Williams are also players well known to the new coach, while Pablo Sarabia could lose the place he had won under the previous coach.