The Spain Euro 2020 squad has been finalised - and there are some big shocks
(Image credit: Getty)
The Spain Euro 2020 squad for this summer has been announced - and Sergio Ramos is not going to be at the tournament.
With the tournament just around the corner, manager Luis Enrique has made some big calls - in March, he gave a number of first call-ups to a couple of players, while dropping others from the team completely.
The biggest news of La Roja's Euro 2020 squad selection is that 180-cap defender, Sergio Ramos, has been dropped. A mainstay of Spanish tournament football since 2006, the 35-year-old veteran has been replaced by Aymeric Laporte, who recently switched international allegiance from France to Spain.
Ramos isn't the only big name not making this latest squad, either. Kepa, Sergi Roberto, Sergio Reguilon, Hector Bellerin, Jesus Navas and Dani Carvajal all miss out from the defence. Ansu Fati is left out too through injury.
Fati's Barca teammate Pedri is in the squad after a call-up in March, though. The teenager has made the cut - Bryan Gil and Pedro Porro who also travelled with La Roja for the first time in the last set of internationals haven't got in, however.
Premier League duo Dani Ceballos and Rodrigo Moreno also miss out. There's not a single Real Madrid player in the side this time around, either.
Spain Euro 2020 squad: Who is Spain's manager?
(Image credit: PA)
Luis Enrique is set to lead the Spanish into his first tournament as manager.
The former Barcelona and Real Madrid midfielder - yep, he played for both - replaced club and country teammate Fernando Hierro in the dugout, after Hierro had to play supply teacher on the eve of the 2018 World Cup. Julen Lopetegui was sacked ahead of the tournament with Hierro drafted in as his replacement.
Enrique quit his role as La Roja's head coach in June 2019 for personal reasons. A legendary figure in the country though, Enrique was back in the hotseat by November.
Spain Euro 2020 squad: Who is Spain's best player?
Spanish football might no longer have the likes of Xavi and Iniesta but in this current generation, there are plenty of exciting players, like Dani Olmo and Pedri, who can turn a game on its head.
In Thiago Alcantara, however, Spain have a metronomic who can lead the side from deep midfield. The Liverpool no.6 is one of the elder statesmen in this young Spanish set-up and the rest of the team will be looking to him for his quiet leadership, as a player who guides others with the way he dictates play.
Thiago has had an average season at best in English football but make no mistake about it - he's going to pivotal for setting the tempo for his country.
Spain's past Euros record
Along with Germany, Spain are the most successful country in the history of the European Championship.
The country's golden generation won two back-to-back titles in 2008 and 2012, sandwiching their World Cup win in South Africa in 2010. They won the second-ever edition of the Euros in 1964 and 20 years later, they finished as runner-up to a Michel Platini-inspired France.
At Euro 2016, the Spanish crumbled in the knockout stage, falling to Antonio Conte's Italy side, while they also faltered at the 2018 World Cup, losing on penalties to hosts, Russia.
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