Spain Euro 2024 squad

Spain Euro 2024: Spain manager Luis de la Fuente has named his 26-man squad for the upcoming Euro 2024 finals, with a blend of experience and exciting young talent. The biggest surprise is the omission of 17-year-old defender Pau Cubarsi, who has been a revelation for Barcelona this season.

Headlining the selections are Barcelona's teenage sensations. 16-year-old wonderkid Lamine Yamal receives his first senior call-up, a testament to his explosive performances at club level. Joining him are his established teammates Pedri and Ferran Torres, who are expected to play key roles in the Spanish attack. Another young talent, Fermin Lopez, also secures a spot in midfield.

Despite the focus on youth, de la Fuente hasn't neglected experience. Seasoned defenders Dani Carvajal and Nacho Fernandez provide stability at the back, while midfield maestro Rodri remains a crucial presence. Real Betis forward Ayoze Perez brings versatility and goalscoring threat.

The absence of Cubarsi has raised eyebrows, with some questioning his exclusion despite his impressive club form. Injuries have ruled out fellow Barcelona youngster Gavi, another highly-rated talent. Marco Asensio's omission from the Real Madrid contingent is another talking point, with his recent dip in form likely a factor.

UEFA's decision to allow 26-man squads for Euro 2024 provides Spain with greater depth and flexibility. This allows de la Fuente to cover for potential injuries or tactical variations throughout the tournament. With replacements allowed until June 13th, the final squad picture could still change slightly.

Position	Player Name	Club	Age	Caps
GK	Unai Simon	Athletic Club	26	40
GK	Alex Remiro	Real Sociedad	29	1
GK	David Raya	Arsenal	28	5
DEF	Jesus Navas	Sevilla	38	53
DEF	Dani Carvajal	Real Madrid	32	44
DEF	Robin Le Normand	Real Sociedad	27	11
DEF	Aymeric Laporte	Al Nassr	30	29
DEF	Nacho Fernandez	Real Madrid	34	25
DEF	Dani Vivian	Athletic Bilbao	24	2
DEF	Alejandro Grimaldo	Bayer Leverkusen	28	4
DEF	Marc Cucurella	Chelsea	25	4
MID	Martin Zubimendi	Real Sociedad	25	6
MID	Rodri	Man City	27	50
MID	Mikel Merino	Real Sociedad	27	21
MID	Fabian Ruiz	PSG	28	23
MID	Pedri	Barcelona	21	20
MID	Fermin Lopez	Barcelona	21	1
FWD	Lamine Yamal	Barcelona	16	7
FWD	Ferran Torres	Barcelona	24	41
FWD	Dani Olmo	RB Leipzig	26	33
FWD	Nico Williams	Athletic Club	21	14
FWD	Ayoze Perez	Real Betis	30	1
FWD	Alvaro Morata	Atletico Madrid	31	73
FWD	Joselu Mato	Real Madrid	34	11
FWD	Mikel Oyarzabal	Real Sociedad	27	30

Drawn in Group B alongside Croatia, Italy, and Albania, Spain faces a challenging group stage. Their opening match against Croatia on June 15th will be a crucial test. The full schedule, including warm-up games, is outlined below:

With a balanced squad and exciting young talent, Spain has the potential to make a deep run in Euro 2024. However, they will need to overcome a competitive group stage and potentially face other European giants in the knockout rounds.