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Julen Lopetegui will soon be choosing the squad to represent Spain in the upcoming World Cup. The national team will be hoping to atone for their disappointing performance in the last World Cup.
Under relatively new manager Lopetegui, Spain has thrived in the World Cup qualifiers. Much to the delight of the home fans, there is little doubt that La Roja is one of the favourites to win the trophy.
Spain has a deep and talented squad, but the players to be chosen for the task ahead remains a mystery. Given the current situation, these are five players who may not be traveling to Russia this summer.
#5 Marc Bartra
The former Bundesliga man had made the decision to ply his trade in La Liga once again. After spending two seasons with Borussia Dortmund, Bartra packed his bags and moved to Real Betis where he has made nine appearances thus far.
As a defender, Bartra will find it difficult deputizing for the likes of Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique. Barring injuries, Bartra is unlikely to make it into the squad. Besides that, his lack of regular game time reduces his chances to be picked by Julen Lopetegui.
Bartra is known for having a decent pace, and can also play as a right-back. However, all that is just a little shy off the mark required to make his way into the squad.
#4 Nacho Monreal
Monreal joined Arsenal in 2013 and has emerged as one of the best left-backs in the Premier League. He has retained his position as a regular starter in the line-up over the last couple of seasons.
However, since making his international debut in 2009, he has appeared on just 21 occasions and has not played thus far this year. Monreal had a three-year absence between 2013 and 2016 from the national team, and was only called up due to the prevalence of injuries suffered by other first-team players.
The Arsenal man looks unlikely to be involved in the upcoming World Cup despite his consistent performances throughout the season. His crosses and attacking game has been far weaker than that of his compatriots, making him a less likely option ahead of the team selection.
All stats via transfermarkt
#3 Cesc Fabregas
The Chelsea man has been left out of the Spanish national team since 2016. Despite establishing himself as one of the most consistent and regular players for Chelsea, Fabregas has not been able to regain his spot in Spain.
Central midfielders such as Isco, Andres Iniesta and Thiago Alcantara are solidifying their spots in the national team. There is little room to accommodate Fabregas who had announced his desire to return to the team.
The former Arsenal and Barcelona star has been known for his accurate passing and ability to make key passes to his team-mates.
Playing predominantly as a playmaker, he uses his technique and superb ball control to dictate the tempo of the game. He can also be used as a deep-lying midfielder, but these do not seem to impress Julen Lopetegui.
#2 Gerard Deulofeu
The 24-year-old midfielder had limited opportunities to shine while at Barcelona. As such, he joined Watford this January in order to have more game time. The young midfielder is a fast and skilled player, with great dribbling technique.
Regarded as one of the hottest young prospects, Deulofeu has been unable to make much headway into the Spanish national team. Playing as a winger or midfielder, there are plenty of Spaniards who play in the same position and have much more experience than him.
Currently, the Watford player is struggling to be fit and play again. Perhaps, this World Cup is not the time for Deulofeu to impress.
#1 Pedro
Pedro has not been called to the Spanish squad since the end of 2017. This season, he has scored just 7 goals in 41 appearances, a much poorer display as compared to last season where he scored 13 goals in 43 appearances.
The forward is fast and has great positioning. However, he is not clinical enough in front of the goal and pales in comparison to Diego Costa and team-mate Alvaro Morata. When the Spaniard was playing at Camp Nou, he found himself not playing most of the time.
Now in the Premier League, Pedro has had more chances to shine but most often than not, he has been wasting the opportunities given to him. There are other more prolific goalscorers eligible to represent Spain and as such, Pedro may certainly not be given the nod for Russia.
