Spain National Football Team

Manager / Luis Enrique
Appointed / July 2018
Captain / Sergio Busquets
Top Scorer in Euro 2020 Qualifiers / Alvaro Morata, 4
Top Scorer in Squad (Domestic season 2020-21) / Gerard Moreno, 23 (Villarreal, La Liga)
Most Carded in qualifying / Busquets, 2
Group / E, vs. Sweden (14/06/2021), vs. Poland (19/06/2021), vs. Slovakia (23/06/2021)

* All odds displayed correct at the time of publishing *

Spain Road to Euro 2020

The headline news is no Sergio Ramos, and no Real Madrid players at all, with the Spain and Real captain not fit enough to make Enrique’s 24-man selection. That’s news within itself, with the former Barcelona gaffer opting for only 24 players, as opposed to the increased 26 he’s entitled to. The Real contingent of Lucas Vazquez, Nacho and Marco Asensio can all feel somewhat hard done by to be left out, as can Celta Vigo’s Iago Aspas, with the striker having another fine season. It does look a well-balanced squad though, and there’s more than enough talent to hurt any country at the tournament.

Goalkeeper

With Ramos out injured, there’s an argument that no one position in Enrique’s starting XI is nailed down, and that’s certainly true of the number one spot. David De Gea looks to have lost his position at club level and with Unai Simon continuing to impress for both Athletic Bilbao and Spain, the 23-year-old could be in line for a starting berth. Brighton’s Robert Sanchez did well to get in the squad ahead of Chelsea’s Kepa, yet he’ll have to be content as Spain’s third choice, not bad for someone on loan at Rochdale last year.

Defence

Again, the defence could be a combination of just about all of the players Enrique has called up. Aymeric Laporte’s change of nationality from French to Spanish will soften the Ramos blow, yet a centre half partnership of himself and Pau Torres would be interesting. You seldom see two left-footed centre halves together across any of Europe’s top 5 leagues, yet we may see just that for Spain with back-ups Diego Llorente and Eric Garcia’s playing time at domestic level limited over the season. Enrique’s relationship with Jordi Alba has been fraught in the past and Jose Gaya’s season at Valencia was commendable so the left-back berth is open to discussion. As is the role on the other end of the back four, Cesar Azpilicueta has thrived under Thomas Tuchel’s guidance and could be in-line to start, though Marcos Llorente has just won La Liga and looks at home playing in any role across the park, be it right back, centre midfield or as part of a front three.

Midfield

Rodri should find himself as the holding midfielder in a three, having displaced Sergio Busquets and the Man City man could be flanked by Thiago and Barcelona’s latest wonderkid Pedri. That would be a nicely balanced midfield three even if it does look a little lightweight, though that was little issue for the Spain sides of 2008 – 2012. The likes of Koke and Fabian Ruiz will hope to stake a claim for a starting place in the warm-up games against Portugal and Lithuania, and I wouldn’t be shocked to see Dani Olmo shifted into the heart of the pitch if La Roja are chasing a game.

Attack

Mikel Oyarzabal and Alvaro Morata will be expected to form two thirds of the Spain attack, with the third spot less nailed on. Ferran Torres, Olmo and Marcos Llorente will all have hopes of starting Spain’s opening game and the right-wing spot is their best chance. Torres has an excellent record for Spain, six goals in 10 caps, and has impressed in small bursts for City but his lack of playing time for the English champions is something of a worry, especially with Olmo and Llorente far more up to speed in that regard. I wouldn’t be in a rush to back any Spain players for the golden boot, with three players finishing qualifying on 4 goals and sharing their top scorer gong. Two of them haven’t even travelled in Ramos and Rodrigo and I think you’d be a brave man to back the other, Morata, to score the most goals in this tournament.

Predicted Spain line-up vs Sweden: Simon; Azpilicueta, P. Torres, Laporte, Alba; Thiago, Rodri, Pedri; Olmo, Morata, Oyarzabal

Spain Euro 2020 Betting Tips & Predictions

This is far from a vintage Spain side yet there is a clear argument that they’re in better nick than they were for the previous two tournaments. Since winning the Euros in 2012, a group stage exit at the 2014 World Cup and successive Round of 16 eliminations have represented a massive regression from the golden age of Spanish football. Few names from any of their tournament wins remain with fresher blood finally making up the core of a talented squad.

I suspect they’ll better their recent tournament performances and make it to the Quarter Finals (stage of elimination: Quarter Finals – 2.7) having topped their group (1.25), but they will face a tricky tie in the Quarters, one that will almost certainly be beyond them. Should they win their group then they’ll face one of the 3rd placed teams in the Last 16 yet will expect to face one of the favourites in the Quarter-Finals. They’ll likely line-up against England or the runners up from the group of death (France, Portugal, Germany or Hungary). A reunion with Germany or improbable match-up with Hungary could be good news for Enrique, though I suspect they won’t get it so lucky and will be facing one of my pre-tournament favourites in Portugal, France or England and likely face elimination.

Both Olmo (17.0) and Torres (10.0) could be in with a shout for young player of the tournament yet it would be Pedri who I’d look to if you were fancying going down this avenue. The 18-year-old is a genuine joy to watch and has been one of the key figures alongside Lionel Messi for Barcelona this season. If he’s given similar freedom for his national side then he could be an outside shot for the award at 17.0.

Predicted stage of elimination: Quarter Finals

How to watch Spain v Poland in Euro 2020

📅   When / Saturday, 19 June 2021, 20:00 BST
🏟   Where / Estadio de La Cartuja (Sevilla)
📺   TV / BBC One, ARD
📱   Online streaming / bet365