Spain manager Luis Enrique has included veteran defender Gerard Pique on the preliminary list for the 2022 World Cup, despite his retirement from international football following the exit of “Matador” from the last World Cup in Russia in 2018.
Pique, 35, announced his retirement from the national team after Spain were eliminated from last season’s final against host Russia, but according to Spanish newspaper “Sport” on Monday, the former Barcelona manager included Pique in the preliminary list for the tournament. which will start in less than 3 weeks.
Enrique’s roster includes a large number of central defenders, including Pau Torres, Inigo Martinez, Eric Garcia, Hugo Guillamon, Ermic Laporte, Diego Llorente and Sergio Ramos.
Pique is not having her best days with Barcelona, but she is having her worst seasons with the club jersey she wore 14 years ago, after participating in 8 games as a substitute, and has become the last option even after the injury crisis that hit the team’s defense line.
Pique played 102 matches with the Spanish national team, during which he won the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 Euro.
