Soccer-Barcelona duo left out of Spain squad with four changes from World Cup victory


Soccer Football - International Friendly - Bolivia v Scotland - Sports Illustrated Stadium, Harrison, New Jersey, U.S. - June 6, 2026 Bolivia's Roberto Fernandez in action with Scotland's Ben Gannon-Doak IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Caean Couto

Sept 18 (Reuters) - Spain ⁠manager Luis de la Fuente has called ⁠up four new players to his Spain squad ‌that won the World Cup in July, as Barcelona duo Gavi and Joan Garcia were left out.

Espanyol forward Roberto ​Fernandez and Inter Milan goalkeeper Josep ⁠Martinez have received ⁠their first call-ups.

Real Madrid defender Dean Huijsen returns to ⁠the ‌squad after missing out on victory in the US in July. Fermin Lopez ⁠has also been selected by De la ​Fuente after injury ‌prevented him from being part of the ⁠World Cup.

Garcia ​sustained a knee injury on Wednesday night, and Barcelona have not provided a return date for their ⁠goalkeeper. Gavi would have missed the ​first game of the Nations League had he been selected, as he serves a one-game suspension for ⁠unsporting behaviour during the World Cup final.

Celta Vigo forward Borja Iglesias was the third player from the World Cup squad to miss out, while ​Marcos Llorente has retired.

Spain take ⁠on England at Wembley to start their Nations League ​campaign, followed by ties with ‌Croatia, the Czech Republic and ​then Croatia again during the upcoming international break.

(Reporting by Ruairidh BarlowEditing by Christian Radnedge)

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