Spain announce Europa League roster, Rodriguez biggest, Yamal youngest.【fangjie】

UEFA Nations League champions Spain have announced their 29-man squad for Euro 2024, with manager De La Fuente making three more cuts before handing in the final squad on 7 June. Manchester City midfield star Rodri is the biggest name in the Spanish squad, while 16-year-old Barcelona right winger Yamal is the youngest.

In the 2023 World Footballer of the Year, Rodri, the current world number one backrower, was ranked sixth, making him the highest ranked Spanish player. It is widely believed that the sixth place is too low for Rodri, who should have replaced Lionel Messi in the top three. In Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola's tactical system, Rodriguez is regarded as the "eye of the line" in terms of offensive and defensive transition.

In addition to his extremely important tactical position, Rodney is also good at scoring key goals. In last season's Champions League final, Rodriguez scored the only goal of the match to help Manchester City win the first Champions League title in the team's history; in the final round of this season's Premier League, Rodriguez scored the winning goal to help Manchester City realise an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title. In the national team, Rodriguez has also shown great style, helping Spain to win the UEFA Nations League for the first time in June last year.

Born in July 2007, Yamal has made 50 appearances for Barcelona this season, many times as a starter in the right wing position. In March, Spain drew 3-3 at home against Brazil in a warm-up match, with Yamal creating a penalty and assisting once as the fans at the Bernabeu stadium gave him a standing ovation, and Rodri scored two penalties in that match.

Another young player named in the Spanish squad, Cubasi, born in January 2007, made his Barcelona first-team debut in January this year and quickly established himself as a starter. In March, Cubasi made his Spanish national team debut, coming on as a substitute in warm-up matches against Colombia and Brazil.

Compared with Yamal and Kubasi, the 21-year-old Barcelona midfielder Fer is a bit longer next year, this is his first time to be selected for the national team, and he has scored key goals for Barcelona several times this season. Barcelona midfielder Pedri is injured, but the 2021 Golden Boy winner was selected for the Europa League squad, with Gavi, Balde and Gaya dropping out due to injury. Paris Saint-Germain striker Asensio's performance has been mediocre this season, and the versatile midfielder regretted being left out of the Europa League list.

Spain lacks prolific scorers, with Atletico Madrid striker Morata tied for eighth in the La Liga scoring charts after scoring 15 La Liga goals this season, making him the highest-ranked Spanish player. Real Betis striker Ayoze Perez, who is about to turn 31 and is making his first appearance for the national team, has scored nine league goals this season.

Spain is a three-time European Cup winner, and although its overall strength is not as strong as it was in its heyday, it is still not to be underestimated. Early next month, Spain will face Andorra and Northern Ireland in warm-up matches.

Spain in this year's European Cup is divided into Group B, the same group of opponents, including Albania, Croatia and Italy. 16 June early morning, Spain will be in the group stage of the first match against last year's UEFA Europa League finalists Croatia; June 21, Spain will be in the second round of the group stage ushered in the defending champions are also last year's Europa League semifinal opponents Italy.