Teenagers Yamal and Cubarsi included in young Spain squad for European Championship
MADRID (AP) — Spain is set to take a young squad to the European Championship, with teenagers Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi among the players picked by coach Luis de la Fuente on Monday.
Fermín López, the 21-year-old Barcelona forward, also was included in the list of 29 players announced by the coach, who will have to cut three names from the squad for the tournament in Germany. López has yet to make his debut with the national team.
“They have talent and motivation,” De la Fuente said. “They are very versatile players. Fermín will take a leap forward with this call-up. I hope that they will benefit and show all the potential that they have.”
Ayoze Pérez was another of the few surprises on the list, with the 30-year-old Real Betis forward getting his first call-up to the senior squad.
Other strikers included Atletico Madrid's Álvaro Morata and Real Madrid's Joselu, as well as the 16-year-old Yamal of Barcelona and 21-year-old Nico Williams of Athletic Bilbao.
Along with Cubarsi, the 17-year-old Barcelona center back, other defenders included Madrid's Nacho Fernández and 38-year-old veteran Jesús Navas of Sevilla.
Forwards Marco Asensio of Paris Saint-Germain, Pablo Sarabia of Wolverhampton, Brais Méndez of Real Sociedad and Gerard Moreno of Villarreal were left out.
Veteran Atletico midfielder Koke Resurrección also didn't make the squad.
Spain will be aiming for a record fourth European Championship. It was drawn into Group B with Italy, Albania and Croatia.
“It's a very difficult group but we are prepared,” De la Fuente said. “We will be fighting to be among the title contenders in the end.”
Spain will play warmups against Andorra and Northern Ireland before heading to Germany.
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Squad:
Goalkeepers: Unai Simón (Athletic Bilbao), David Raya (Arsenal), Álex Remiro (Real Sociedad)
Defenders: Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid), Jesús Navas (Sevilla), Aymeric Laporte (Al Nassr), Robin Le Normand (Real Sociedad), Nacho Fernández (Real Madrid), Dani Vivian (Athletic Bilbao), Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona), Alejandro Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen), Marc Cucurella (Chelsea)
Midfielders: Rodrigo (Manchester City), Martín Zubimendi (Real Sociedad), Mikel Merino (Real Sociedad), Fabián Ruiz (Paris Saint-Germain), Pedri (Barcelona), Marcos Llorente (Atletico Madrid), Aleix García (Girona), Alex Baena (Villarreal), Fermín López (Barcelona)
Forwards: Ferran Torres (Barcelona), Dani Olmo (Leipzig), Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Álvaro Morata (Atletico Madrid), Joselu (Real Madrid), Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), Ayoze Pérez (Real Betis)
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Tales Azzoni, The Associated Press
