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After a disappointing 2014 FIFA World Cup exit in the group stage, which included a 1-5 drubbing at the hands of Netherlands, Spain will be hoping to prove themselves on the biggest of stages once again. They were also unceremoniously knocked out of the Euros in 2016 by Italy, as Vincent del Bosque announced his managerial retirement.
In came Julen Lopetegui and today he announced the Spain squad that travels to Russia. They do so in hopes of lifting the spirits of a country that boasts a population of over 45 million and has won the prestigious trophy only once.
However, a number of star names were left out and we look at five of them.
#5 Cesc Fabregas
The Chelsea midfielder is no stranger to the international stage. He played a vital role in Spain's European campaign in both 2008 and 2012, as they went on to lift the trophy back-to-back.
His name is etched in the history books of Spanish football, with his crucial pass for Andres Iniesta in the 116th minute of the World Cup final in 2010 propelled them to a phenomenal victory.
Currently playing for Chelsea in the English Premier League, the 31-year-old is definitely suffering from the fact that his age is catching up to him. The playmaker has had to fight with young-blooded competition not just at club level, but with his national side too.
However, he has proved to be a valuable asset for Antonio Conte in the middle of the park, making 49 appearances this year in total. 32 of those appearances came in the Premier League, with his side eventually going on to lift the FA Cup trophy in what has been a rather disappointing season for the defending champions.
In terms of experience, the inclusion of older players in the final list does make sense. However, the Spanish manager doesn't seem to have space for Andres Iniesta's former teammate despite flourishing when played behind Diego Costa.
The World Cup definitely is a chance for him to settle in with the Spanish faithful and picking up Fabregas would mean taking a chance. They are plenty of options on the table, with the talent pool filled to the brim with midfielders vying for available spots.
#4 Luis Alberto
The 25-year-old Lazio midfielder has definitely had a troubled club career until recently. A youth product of Sevilla, he also had a loan stint with Barcelona B, with the Catalan side having the option of making the deal permanent if things went in their favour.
Fast forward a year later, he ended up in Anfield and the English Premier League. A poor three years at the club quickly got him the label of 'club flop'.
In 2016, Lazio swooped in after he completed two loan stints with Malaga and Deportivo, as the Italian side hoped to improve their own fortunes in Serie A. His form dramatically improved and he has turned into an important starter for the side.
In the 2017/18 season, he made 34 league appearances, scoring 11 goals and racking up 16 assists. Lazio finished fifth in a dramatic final-day encounter with Inter, as the Nerazzurri clinched the important fourth spot for Champions League qualification.
Currently valued at £35 million, the player has come under the radar of Barcelona once again. The Catalan club is hoping to replace club legend Andres Iniesta, with the attacking midfielder as their primary target.
His only international appearance came way back in November 2017, under the current manager who does not seem to have any plans for the player currently. Having cemented a secondary striker role with Lazio, he is just fighting for a spot filled with bigger names.
#3 Suso
The right-winger signed for English side Liverpool at the age of 17 but his four-and-a-half years at Anfield could be described as nothing short of disappointing. 21 appearances, one goal and a loan spell at Almeria were all he had to his name when AC Milan signed him for a paltry £1 million.
In the current day, however, the 24-year-old is a player Milan just cannot afford to lose. The player's development has been incredible since he first moved to the club as a teenager. In 2017 he signed a contract extension with the club, as former club Liverpool had been sniffing around to snatch the player and bring him back to the Premier League.
AC Milan finished a disappointing sixth, 8 points behind Lazio. Suso was the starting choice as a right-winger for the team and made 35 appearances in the league. His return stands at 6 goals and 10 assists, with the player himself saying that he is only playing to '70% of his current ability'.
His exclusion does come as a surprise to some, considering that Julen Lopetegui did hand him his international debuts at both the U-20 and U-21 level. He made a combined total of 14 appearances for his country in the lower levels.
A debut at the age of 23 followed, under the current manager who led his side to face Russia in a friendly.
#2 Sergi Roberto
At the age of 26, youth academy product Sergi Roberto has done well for himself to break into a star-studded Barcelona lineup. Former manager Luis Enrique placed his faith in the young player in 2015 when his future was in doubt and playing at the Camp Nou week-in and week-out is a privilege he definitely understands better than many.
This season, however, he has had to fight for his position. New signing Nelson Semedo was hoping to break-in as well but Roberto turned into the obvious choice as starting right-back.
He made a total of 48 appearances for the Blaugrana in the 2017/18 season, 30 of which came in the league. He was a vital part of the cog that lost just one game on their way to lifting the La Liga title with a mammoth 93 points.
Furthermore, the player has been instrumental and a key figure in some of the more important games Barcelona has played this year. However, this is not the first time he has been dropped.
During their friendlies against Germany and Argentina, Lopetegui was questioned over his decision to leave out Roberto and the Spanish manager confirmed that they preferred to have a 'specific right-back'. The coaching staff has singled out Dani Carvajal as the starting right-back, with youngster Alvaro Odriozla as a backup.
The manager did confirm then that the gates have not closed on the Barcelona player's international future and World Cup selection, but it looks like he has definitely locked it and thrown the key away at this point.
#1 Marcos Alonso
The Spanish full-back's family constantly pops up when one goes through the history of Spanish football. His grandfather spent eight years at Real Madrid, with his father representing Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, and Spain at the senior level.
He joined Real Madrid's youth academy as a child and even made an appearance for the first team way back in 2009. Consequent spells with Bolton Wanderers, Fiorentina and a loan stint at Sunderland followed. On his return from England, he cemented his spot as a started with Fiorentina, as Chelsea's interest grew.
It took £24 million for the club to sign him and the player has become one of Antonio Conte's favorites. He has seamlessly slotted himself into the starting left-wing back position and amassed 48 appearances in the 2017/18 season.
His ability to bomb down the flanks and join the attacking player's with his goal-scoring prowess has been lauded in the Premier League and his performances have been instrumental in his team's successful FA Cup campaign.
He has had only one call-up to the international side so far, an 11-minute appearance against Argentina in March earlier this year. This made the Alonsos the first Spanish family to have three generations of internationals.
He was widely touted to make it to the final list, but Julen Lopetegui opted for Arsenal left-back Nacho Monreal instead. "Monreal has come with us many times. We know him well and we are convinced he will help us," said the manager when questioned over the decision.
Other notable exclusions: Alvaro Morata (Chelsea), Ander Herrera (Manchester United), Marc Bartra (Borrusia Dortmund), Javi Martinez (Bayern Munich), Hector Bellerin (Arsenal).
