On Tuesday, Spain will face off against Egypt in their second friendly match during the current international break, which will take place at Espanyol’s RCDE Stadium.
This match could mark a significant milestone for FC Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia, who has earned his first call-up to the La Roja squad and may have the opportunity to debut against Egypt.
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Luis de la Fuente Discusses Joan Garcia’s Situation
Ahead of the upcoming match, Spain’s manager, Luis de la Fuente, spoke to the media regarding the prospect of Garcia making his debut but chose to keep his plans private.
“We’ll see how the match unfolds. They will find out tomorrow, and I’d like them to be the first to know. This isn’t just a typical friendly match; we need to field a highly competitive team,” he stated.
“The players who start will be excellent, and we’ll determine the goalkeeper’s role as the game progresses.”
De la Fuente also addressed potential negative reactions from Espanyol fans toward Joan Garcia due to his controversial summer transfer to Barcelona.
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“Leave your biases at home and support Spain instead. Set aside local loyalties and focus solely on the national team. If you’re tempted to act otherwise, please stay home; otherwise, come and enjoy the match after so many years,” he urged.
Could a Spain debut be on the horizon? (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)
When asked again about the likelihood of Joan Garcia playing against Egypt and if he would consider rotating goalkeepers during the match, De la Fuente commented:
“I can’t confirm anything just yet; it will depend on how the match progresses and the decisions we make to ensure victory. We will assemble a competitive team with the goal of maintaining high intensity and standards.”
On Eric Garcia and Lamine Yamal
Additionally, De la Fuente discussed his choice to exclude Eric Garcia from the squad while hinting at the chance of the Barcelona defender making the World Cup squad.
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“Eric has been part of my teams at the Under-19s, Under-21s, and the Olympic squad. He is well-regarded by everyone, myself included, and he has a good chance of being selected,” the La Roja coach explained.
“He’s dealing with a minor injury, which could be the reason for his absence. There are still two months to go, and a lot can change.”
De la Fuente also talked about Lamine Yamal and the winger’s growth over the past couple of years:
“He is a significantly better player than he was two years ago, and he is not yet at his peak. He has a unique touch, and his impact on the team is increasing daily.
“He still has much to achieve and plenty of opportunities for improvement. At the moment, he is in excellent form and performing brilliantly. It’s been one of the season’s highlights.”
Barcelona is monitoring Lamine’s workload. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
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Regarding how he manages Lamine’s eagerness to play every minute while also considering workload management, De la Fuente stated:
“He could potentially be in line for a starting position because we aim to win. We need fresh legs in the team, but we must also be cautious not to tire anyone out.”
“I understand that the Barça manager has his priorities, just as others have their individual aspirations, but my focus is on the collective interest. I must select a team capable of achieving victory.”
In light of Barcelona’s concerns regarding Lamine’s workload management following Raphinha’s injury while representing Brazil, De la Fuente remarked:
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“I need to choose the best team to win. I know everyone has their favorites, but I consider all players. I empathize with their situations, and I expect the same understanding in return.
“It’s unfortunate about Raphinha, but we have players from Barça, Madrid, Athletic… Seven from Barça represent a positive for them. My goal is to select the best players.”
Source: Mundo Deportivo