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DOHA, Qatar (AP) — César Azpilicueta is certainly one of solely six gamers with earlier World Cup expertise in Spain’s 26-man squad.
A number of others, together with youngsters Pedri González, Gavi Páez and Alejandro Balde, and 20-year-olds Ansu Fati, Yéremy Pino and Nico Williams, will likely be enjoying on the largest soccer event on the earth for the primary time.
“I don’t know if we’ve got a veteran group or a younger one, every participant has his function,” Azpilicueta stated Saturday after Spain held its first follow session at its base camp at Qatar College. “Folks like me, we will share our experiences from having performed at a number of World Cups and might contribute issues {that a} participant who is eighteen or 19 years outdated can’t.”
Midfielder Sergio Busquets is the one remaining participant from the group that led Spain to its sole World Cup title in 2010 in South Africa. Azpilicueta, a 33-year-old proper again, first performed on the 2014 event, when Spain was eradicated within the group stage.
Azpilicueta stated he’s impressed with each the “confidence” of gamers just like the 18-year-old Gavi, who holds information for Spain’s youngest participant and youngest scorer, and the big-game expertise that they have already got.
“What I’m most shocked by is their daring, the way in which they go for the sport and don’t get rattled,” Azpilicueta stated. “Gamers are beginning earlier now, we will see it of their maturity ranges and the way they perceive the sport. Some (like Pedri) have already got expertise of enjoying in a European Championship, a Nations League, and now at age 19 will play in a World Cup.”
Pedri, who excelled for Spain in final 12 months’s run to the semifinals of the European Championship, will seemingly begin alongside Gavi and the 34-year-old Busquets in an all-Barcelona midfield. This will likely be Busquets’ fourth World Cup.
Azpilicueta had made solely six appearances with the nationwide group earlier than he began as Vicente del Bosque’s proper again on the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, when Spain was the defending champion. However as an alternative of serving to the nation proceed a dominant run that additionally included European titles in 2008 and 2012, Spain was eradicated after a 5-1 thumping by the Netherlands and a 2-0 loss to Chile.
He solely performed 9 minutes at Euro 2016, when Spain reached the spherical of 16, and he by no means left the bench on the 2018 World Cup in Russia when Spain misplaced on the identical stage to the underdog host group.
However after not being included in Luis Enrique’s plans when he took over the group earlier than Euro 2020, he labored his method again in. He made the squad for that pandemic-delayed event and performed in 4 video games as Spain fell one win in need of reaching the ultimate in London.
“In 2010 I used to be solely a fan, after which in my two World Cups issues didn’t go the way in which I might have favored. Now we’ve got a 3rd alternative,” stated Azpilicueta, who has made 44 appearances for the nationwide group. “I hope it goes properly.”
Azpilicueta will provide Luis Enrique a stable, regular hand at proper again, particularly when Spain faces a potent assault. He’ll compete with Dani Carvajal and Marcos Llorente for taking part in time.
Spain opens play towards Costa Rica on Wednesday. 4-time champion Germany and Japan are additionally in Group E.
Qatar has been criticized for being the host of the event, primarily for its human rights document but in addition for forcing the World Cup to be performed throughout the conventional European season to keep away from the Center Jap warmth.
Hector Bellerín, a Barcelona proper again who didn’t make the nationwide group, devoted his acceptance speech for being named certainly one of GQ Spain’s Males of the Yr to denounce the selection of Qatar because the host nation.
“Being right here tonight means not being on the World Cup and with the nationwide group. Not forming a part of that saddens me. However, alternatively, I’m glad,” Bellerín stated to applause in Madrid on Friday. “I don’t know if I may handle to benefit from the burden of 6,500 deaths within the technique of building for the World Cup.
“Folks from international locations like Pakistan or Bangladesh, the bulk males of their 30s and 40s who had been solely looking for dignified and respectable lives for themselves and their households. Soccer serves as a mirror for society, for its greed, its selfishness.”
As for the climate in Qatar, which continues to be heat even in November, Azpilicueta stated it hasn’t been an issue.
“Some solar and a bit of heat?” the Chelsea participant stated. “I come from London, so I can’t complain.”
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AP World Cup protection: https://apnews.com/hub/world-cup and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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