MADRID – Spain coach Luis Enrique is brimming with confidence about his ability to lead the Spaniards to a second World Cup title at the 2022 tournament in Qatar, 12 years from their first triumph.
After announcing his 26-man World Cup squad on Friday, the former Barcelona coach said he had never had any misgivings about whether he was the best man for the job. “How can I doubt myself? I am the best coach on the face of the earth,” he said.
“If I have to convince my players I have to be convinced myself... There is no better coach than me. I know it’s not true, but I believe it. Doubts? None!”
He included Barca’s Ansu Fati but axed veterans like Paris Saint-Germain defender Sergio Ramos, Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara, Barcelona wing-back Marcos Alonso and Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea, putting his faith in a new generation.
Thiago saw his role diminish with the rise of Barca teenagers Pedri, 19, and 18-year-old Gavi.
Fati was called up despite the 20-year-old forward not used in September’s Nations League clashes and performing below his best for Barcelona this season.
He has four caps for La Roja and one goal, and has spent the best part of the last two seasons on the sidelines because of repeated knee injuries.
It is a risk worth taking, according to Enrique, who led Spain to the European Championship semi-finals and the Nations League final in 2021 with a team aged on average just over 25.
He said: “Ansu was one of our last question marks. I doubted until the last minute, but I decided for him because his technical qualities are amazing and being here with us could work as a big motivation for him as he’s still working to get back to peak form.”
Athletic Bilbao forward Nico Williams and Valencia defender Hugo Guillamon were also selected, along with Villarreal winger Yeremy Pino.
Enrique has been criticised in the past for not calling up Real Madrid players, but Los Blancos pair Dani Carvajal and Marco Asensio were included.
Enrique said: “Youth gives you freedom because you are not yet aware of the consequences. Yet, most of the youngsters that are with us are already in high-level teams. The bar that I’m setting is infinity. We are going to give war, there is no doubt.”
Spain resume training on Monday and will travel the next day to Amman to face Jordan in a friendly ahead of their World Cup opener against Costa Rica on Nov 23. They will also face Germany and Japan in Group E.
Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal, meanwhile, included injured Barca forward Memphis Depay and uncapped teenager Xavi Simons but surprisingly left out veteran Jasper Cillessen, tipped to be the starting goalkeeper.
Depay has not played since limping off during their Nations League match against Poland on Sept 22, and has played less than 150 minutes for Barcelona this season.
But van Gaal had already said his top scorer would be certain of a place as long as there was a chance of him playing. Simons, 19, has flourished since his move from PSG to PSV Eindhoven this summer, scoring eight goals in 13 league matches.
Van Gaal said for players like Depay and midfielder Frenkie de Jong, “I will save a place until the last moment”.
The Dutch are in Group A with hosts Qatar, Ecuador and Senegal. AFP, REUTERS
Spain squad
Goalkeepers: Unai Simon (Athletic Bilbao), Robert Sanchez (Brighton), David Raya (Brentford)
Defenders: Jose Gaya (Valencia), Jordi Alba (Barcelona), Eric Garcia (Barcelona), Aymeric Laporte (Manchester City), Pau Torres (Villarreal), Hugo Guillamon (Valencia), Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea), Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid)
Midfielders: Rodri (Manchester City), Koke (Atletico Madrid), Marcos Llorente (Atletico Madrid), Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Gavi (Barcelona), Pedri Gonzalez (Barcelona), Carlos Soler (PSG)
Forwards: Dani Olmo (RB Leipzig), Pablo Sarabia (PSG), Alvaro Morata (Juventus), Ansu Fati (Barcelona), Ferran Torres (Barcelona), Marco Asensio (Real Madrid), Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Yeremy Pino (Villarreal)
Netherlands squad
Goalkeepers: Justin Bijlow (Feyenoord), Andries Noppert (Heerenveen), Remko Pasveer (Ajax Amsterdam)
Defenders: Nathan Ake (Manchester City), Daley Blind (Ajax), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Denzel Dumfries (Inter Milan), Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer Leverkusen), Matthijs de Ligt (Bayern Munchen), Tyrell Malacia (Manchester United), Jurrien Timber (Ajax), Stefan de Vrij (Inter Milan)
Midfielders: Steven Berghuis (Ajax), Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona), Davy Klaassen (Ajax), Teun Koopmeiners (Atalanta Bergamo), Marten de Roon (Atalanta Bergamo), Xavi Simons (PSV Eindhoven), Kenneth Taylor (Ajax)
Forwards: Steven Bergwijn (Ajax), Memphis Depay (Barcelona), Cody Gakpo (PSV), Vincent Janssen (Antwerp), Luuk de Jong (PSV), Noah Lang (Club Brugge), Wout Weghorst (Besiktas)
