Spain manager Luis de la Fuente names provisional 29-man Euros squad including Nacho and Fermin Lopez | OneFootball

Spain manager Luis de la Fuente has announced his 29-man preliminary squad for Euro 2024 in Germany, which will have to be cut down to a maximum of 26 for the tournament. The headline inclusions are Real Madrid defender Nacho Fernandez and Barcelona midfielder Fermin Lopez.

Other surprises include Real Betis forward Ayoze Perez and Girona’s Aleix Garcia, although the latter was called up in the last international break of 2023. Spain will take on Andorra and Northern Ireland in preparatory friendlies, before kicking off their campaign against Croatia on the 15th of June, with Italy and Albania to follow in their group.

Perhaps the headline omissions are Paris Saint-Germain forward Marco Asensio, Real Madrid’s Lucas Vazquez, Athletic Club’s Oihan Sancet and Villarreal forward Gerard Moreno. Recent improved form has given Cucurella the nod, while teenage starlets Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi are set for their first major tournament if they make the cut.

Perhaps the forward with the most to prove ahead of the final cut is Ayoze, while Fermin will start as the outside shout in midfield, aiming to prove he gets forward better than the likes of Marcos Llorente. In defence, it seems likely one of Dani Vivian or Nacho will miss out.

Full Squad:

Goalkeepers: Unai Simon, Alex Remiro, David Raya.

Defenders: Jesus Navas, Dani Carvajal, Robin Le Normand, Aymeric Laporte, Nacho Fernandez, Dani Vivian, Pau Cubarsi, Alejandro Grimaldo, Marc Cucurella.

Midfielders: Martin Zubimendi, Rodri Hernandez, Mikel Merino, Fabian Ruiz, Pedri, Marcos Llorente, Fermin Lopez, Aleix Garcia, Alex Baena.

Forwards: Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres, Dani Olmo, Nico Williams, Ayoze Perez, Alvaro Morata, Joselu Mato, Mikel Oyarzabal.