The return of Pedri, absent since the fateful penalty shootout at Wembley that left Spain at the gates of glory in the last European Championship, is the great attraction of a special date, the return of the team to Barcelona after 18 years of absence , with a friendly match against Albania in which Luis Enrique Martínez will test with the World Cup in Qatar already in mind.
While teams of the greatness of Italy, current European champion, stay out of the World Cup event or Portugal suffers until the last moment to try to get through to the playoffs, Spain faces games without competitive tension, with its passport to Qatar already sealed . Albania is the first opportunity for Luis Enrique, before Iceland in La Coruña, to continue rejuvenating his group, instilling ideas and testing.
For the first time since the night of greatest glory for Spanish football in the 2010 World Cup final, La Roja will play without any representative from the golden generation among his players. The absence, due to rest, of Sergio Busquets causes it. Luis Enrique gives command to Rodri, with new partners who have gained continuity, such as Gavi, and the return of a footballer who has everyone in love, Pedri.
At just 18 years old, he made the national team behind him in the last European Championship and was about to make it champion. The break first after a crazy season that closed with his participation in the Olympic Games, and the toll in the form of injuries that came later, have caused his absences since last June. He will once again assume the baton, now with the 10 behind him, of a group of footballers who will come out to enjoy the moment.
Luis Enrique’s plan was disrupted by the unexpected loss of Raúl de Tomás. It was going to be a starter as another attraction at Espanyol’s home, a stadium that will present a great entrance in the return of Spain to Barcelona in a match with special connotations for the Federation, which was always the objective of its president Luis Rubiales. He leaves Álvaro Morata as the main candidate for the position and the option of Ferran Torres, top scorer in the it was louis henry to act on the edge if he doesn’t do it on the wing.
Along with Ferran and Pedri appear players who return to the national team after absence due to injuries such as Marcos Llorente or Yeremy Pino, and Marcos Alonso taking advantage of the gap left by José Gaya due to injury. Together with Ansu Fati and Mikel Oyarzabal they are the great absences. Also Gerard Moreno, recently recovered from an injury. Spain will seek to increase their goalscoring records with players who are permanent players like Pablo Sarabia and Dani Olmo.
Three of the Albanian internationals play in Spain: Iván Balliu at Rayo Vallecano, Myrto Uzuni at Granada and the special case of Keidi Baré, an Espanyol player who will play in their away stadium.
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