Madrid (AFP)

The beginnings of a revolution?

Spain will go to the Euro (June 11 - July 11) without its captain Sergio Ramos but with the Franco-Spanish Aymeric Laporte and a wave of young players, blowing a wind of renewal within the "Roja".

Almost a decade after the Euro-2008, World-2010, Euro-2012 treble, Spain turns everything upside down: coach Luis Enrique decided on Monday to do without his emblematic captain Sergio Ramos (35), not fully recovered physical glitches that have spoiled the end of the season, and will tackle the Euro with the new Spanish generation.

"It was a difficult decision to make, but Ramos has not played and has hardly trained since January," said Luis Enrique at a press conference on Monday at midday.

- "It was hard" -

"I called him yesterday (Sunday), it was hard, difficult. I feel bad, because he is very professional and he helps the selection a lot. And he will still be able to help him in the future. have to look for the best for the group, "said the manager.

Ramos, will therefore miss his first major international competition with Spain since 2005, the date of his first steps in selection.

At the end of his contract on June 30 and still negotiating his extension with Real Madrid, Ramos was absent due to injury for most of the end of the season.

He was injured in his right thigh, left calf, contracted Covid-19, and most recently he was injured in his left hamstrings.

He only played five matches with his team in 2021. After receiving the green light from Real last week, he was in Real's squad for the last game of the season on Saturday against VIllarreal (2-1), but did not come into play.

Does his absence at the Euro mean that he will play in the Tokyo Olympics with Spain?

Luis Enrique did not wish to comment, specifying that the selection for the Olympics was not his responsibility.

A thunderclap all the more difficult to swallow for Ramos as captain Merengue misses a unique opportunity to play the Euro in front of his home crowd, in Andalusia: Spain will play its matches in Seville, near the birthplace of Ramos (Camas).

- No "Merengue", a first -

For the first time in its history, the "Roja" will approach an international competition without any Real player.

A huge thunderclap.

The other big announcement from Luis Enrique is the presence of Franco-Spanish defender Aymeric Laporte in the list: called up three times for the France team but without ever playing a match, the Manchester City defender, naturalized thanks to an accelerated procedure he two weeks ago, officially chose Spain.

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His arrival "has nothing to do" directly with the absence of Ramos, assured Luis Enrique, although the two players play in the same position, in central defense.

And the surprise absence of Ramos confirms the renewal desired by Luis Enrique and initiated during the last international windows.

The Spain manager, who returned to his post in the fall of 2019 after taking a hiatus during the summer for the death of his daughter, has been able to test a lot of young talent in recent months, and has called many for the Euro: Eric Garcia, Mikel Oyarzabal, Pau Torres, Pedri, Dani Olmo, and Ferran Torres, among others.

The eternal grunts of Barça, Sergio Busquets (32 years) and Jordi Alba (32 years), will therefore act as veterans in this rejuvenated list, which will try to play the spoilsport to play elbows among the big favorites for the final victory .

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Spain's list of 24 players for the Euro (June 11 - July 11):

Goalkeepers: David De Gea, Unai Simon, Robert Sanchez

Defenders: José Gaya, Jordi Alba, Pau Torres, Aymeric Laporte, Eric García, Diego Llorente, César Azpilicueta, Marcos Llorente

Midfielders: Sergio Busquets, Rodri, Thiago Alcantara, Pedri, Koke, Fabian Ruiz

Forwards: Gerard Moreno, Alvaro Morata, Dani Olmo, Mikel Oyarzabal, Ferran Torres, Adama Traoré, Pablo Sarabia

Coach: Luis Enrique

© 2021 AFP