Spain’s most capped player Sergio Ramos left out as Luis Enrique names his squad for the Euros
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Spain's most capped player Sergio Ramos has been left out of as Luis Enrique names his squad for the Euros
Real Madrid defender and captain Sergio Ramos has been left out of Spain’s list to play in the upcoming 2020 UEFA Euro, coach Luis Enrique announced.
Due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, each coach was granted a 26-man allowance for their Euro 2020 squad. Enrique, however, opted to name just 24 players, as he made made some controversial decisions on his list, which saw Aymeric laporte getting a call-up after he had recently changed his national allegiance from France, and Iago Aspas being left out behind Pablo Sarabia and Adama Traore while Nacho also probably deserved to be included after his brilliant run of form with Real Madrid.
No Real Madrid player named in Luis Enrique’s Spain Squad for the Euros as Sergio Ramos misses out
Spain boss Luis Enrique revealed his 24-man shortlist for this summer’s tournament on Monday morning, with Ramos missing out after a disappointing campaign at Real. Ramos’s omission is nevertheless a surprise, considering that he has made 180 appearances for the Spain national team, winning one World Cup and two European Championship titles.
Barcelona’s Sergio Busquets has been named captain in Ramos’ absence, while Aymeric Laporte has been handed a defensive spot alongside Manchester City teammate Eric Garcia, Villareal’s Pau Torres and Leeds’ Diego Llorente ahead of Ramos, after seeing his request to represent La Roja instead of France approved earlier this month. Ramos just recovered from the injury he picked up during the return leg against Chelsea but should have enough time to improve his conditioning and form ahead of the Euro, so this seems to be purely a technical decision, as the coach confirmed in press conference shortly after the list was announced.
Enrique suggested that Ramos, an unused substitute in Real Madrid’s season-closing win against Villarreal on Saturday, has sustained an injury that influenced the decision to leave him out of the Euros squad.
“Any decision I made about Sergio Ramos would have been controversial,” Enrique said. “I know where I am, and accept there will be noise from the media. Ramos has not been able to compete this season, he has not been able to train with the group. I called him last night, it was difficult and hard.”
“I clearly see that it’s a complicated decision. I recommended that he be selfish and that he regains his level to play in his club and in the national team.”
“The Aymeric Laporte decision has nothing to do with the Ramos situation. [Ramos] is a top player, can help our national team a lot, plays at one of the best clubs in history.
“Please don’t mix Ramos not being in the squad with call-ups for others. I’d have liked him to be here, to have recovered.”
The former Barcelona coach in fact decided against including any players from Real Madrid, with notable absentees being Nacho and Marco Asensio, who had chances to make the team.
When asked about the total absence of Real Madrid players, Enrique said: “It is possible as players like Dani Carvajal and Sergio Ramos [had] injuries during the season.
“Apart from that I cannot pick the squad based on whether some people will be happy or not.”
Ramos’ omission means this is the first time that Spain will travel to a major tournament without a Real Madrid player in their squad.
Chelsea’s Cesar Azpilicueta got his callup since quite long after his recent run of form, reaching the Champions League and FA Cup Final as an important player in Tuchel’s three man back line. PSG’s Pablo Sarabia and in form Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez also get a much deserved call up to the national side.
It is now to see how Spain fares in the championships and whether they can make account for Sergio Ramos’s absence from the side for the first time in any major tournament since the 2004 Euros.
Spain 24- man Squad for Euro 2020:
Goalkeepers: Unai Simon, David de Gea, Robert Sanchez;
Defenders: Jose Gaya, Jordi Alba, Pau Torres, Aymeric Laporte, Eric Garcia, Diego Llorente, Cesar Azpilicueta, Marcos Llorente;
Midfielders: Sergio Busquets, Rodri, Pedri, Thiago, Koke, Fabian;
Forwards: Dani Olmo, Mikel Oyarzabal, Alvaro Morata, Gerard Moreno, Ferran Torres, Adama Traore, Pablo Sarabia.
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Sayantan Dutta
(266 Articles Published)