Spain are gearing up to defend their UEFA Nations League title in June as La Roja take on France in the semi-finals.
Luis de la Fuente secured the 2023 trophy – as his first with the Spain senior team – before going on to lead his squad to UEFA Euro 2024 glory against England last summer.
Despite the incoming FIFA Club World Cup hanging over the international window, De la Fuente has selected five players expected to travel with their clubs to the the USA, including new Real Madrid star Dean Huijsen.
Huijsen will head straight off to join up with the Los Blancos camp in Miami, after completing Spain duty, with Robin Le Normand, Fabian Ruiz, Samu Aghehowa and Marc Cucurrella in the same position.
De la Fuente has followed the pattern of England head coach Thomas Tuchel by prioritising the needs of the national team despite the packed club schedule.
However, there was also room for some unexpected call ups, with Real Betis star Isco back in the fold after another excellent campaign at Real Betis.
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Spain’s UEFA Nations League squad: Isco returns, Rodri misses out
Isco has been reborn since joining Los Verdiblancos ahead of the 2023/24 campaign and he only missed out on Euro 2024 due to injury.
However, 12 goals in all competitions – as Real Betis secured a Europa League spot and a place in the Conference League final – has brought him back into De la Fuente’s plans.
Here’s the Spain squad for the Nations League final four… pic.twitter.com/hKIAlb59nb
— The Spanish Football Podcast (@tsf_podcast) May 26, 2025
Dani Vivian also returns, in place of Real Madrid center-back Raul Asencio, with Barcelona’s teenage star Pau Cubarsi back.
Cubarsi’s clubmates Gavi and Fermin Lopez are granted a chance to impress – on the back of winning a trophy treble in 2024/25 – but there is no place for Manchester City star Rodri.
The experienced midfielder featured in City’s penultimate game of the domestic season, after nine months out following an ACL injury, and the 28-year-old will not be risked as Pep Guardiola looks to focus on the Club World Cup.
Spain take on France in Stuttgart on June 5 before a potential final against either hosts Germany or Portugal in Munich three days later.
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