Ramos excluded from the Spanish national team
Spain's national team captain, veteran defender Sergio Ramos, will be the most prominent absentee from the postponed European Cup 2020, which begins on June 11, after his sudden exclusion from the final list on Monday.
Coach Luis Enrique summoned 24 players to the list of champions for the year 2010, noting that the European Football Association (UEFA) had approved the 26 call-up, as the Frenchman Emeric Laporte included Manchester City defender, after the Spanish government approved his citizenship.
"It was a difficult decision, but he had not been able to compete in the right conditions since January," said Enrique of excluding the Real Madrid captain, who has suffered injuries this season.
"I called him yesterday, it was tough and difficult. I feel bad because he is very professional and he helps the national team a lot. He will still be able to help him in the future. But I have to look for the best for the group."
Ramos, 35, missed Real Madrid due to several injuries and only played five games with the team in 2021, knowing that he has become physically better lately. He injured his right thigh, left calf, Covid-19, and finally the posterior muscle of his left thigh.
No Real Madrid player was on the "La Roja" list in a precedent of its kind, with Lucas Vasquez and Danny Carvajal missing as well, but Nacho's absence was surprising.
And about calling 24 players instead of 26, "Most of the national teams have 26 players, but we thought we only needed an extra player. We know the importance of them feeling as if they might play at any moment. This dynamic in the team is important."
As for Laport, the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) on Friday approved playing for the Spanish national team.
Laporte, born in Agen (southwest of France), was at the Athletic Bilbao Basque team in the period between 2010 and 2018 before moving to Manchester City, and was invited three times to the French national team between 2016 and 2020 without running any minute in the colors of the roosters. So he can play with the Spain national team.
World champion France coach Didier Deschamps has plenty of options at the center of defense, with Raphael Varane, Luca Hernandez, Presnelle Quimpembe, Clement Langley and Kurt Zuma who he picked over Laporte's account in recent months.
Spain was European champion in 2008 and 2012 in Group E along with Poland, Slovakia and Sweden.
Here is the squad:
Goalkeepers: David De Gea (Manchester United, England), Unai Simon (Athletic Bilbao), Robert Sanchez (Brighton, England).
Defense line: Jose Gaia (Valencia), Eric Garcia and Aymeric La Porte (Manchester City), Jordi Alba (Barcelona), Diego Llorente (Leeds United of England), Pau Torres (Villarreal), Cesar Aspilicueta (Chelsea, England).
Midfielders: Fabian Reus (Napoli), Pedri and Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Rodrigo Hernandez (Manchester City, England), Cookie and Marcus Llorente (Atletico Madrid), Thiago Alcantara (Liverpool, England).
Offensive line: Danny Olmo (Leipzig, Germany), Mikel Auriasabal (Real Sociedad), Ferran Torres (Manchester City, England), Gerrard Moreno (Villarreal), Alvaro Morata (Juventus), Adama Traore (Wolverhampton, England), Pablo Sarabia (Paris Saint) French German).
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