Spain coach De la Fuente calls up new faces as Barcelona trio miss Nations League squad
Synopsis
With Barcelona trio Rodri, Dani Olmo and Eric Garcia all injured, Spain coach Luis de la Fuente has handed debut call-ups to goalkeeper Alvaro Valles, midfielder Marc Roca and defender Jacobo Ramon for the UEFA Nations League run-in. The world champions have already qualified for the quarters but must top the group — and they must do it without their most influential midfielder.
Key Takeaways
Luis de la Fuente named a 27-man squad on 6 November for UEFA Nations League matches against the Czech Republic ( 12 Nov ) and England ( 15 Nov ).
FC Barcelona trio Eric Garcia , Dani Olmo , and Rodri Hernandez are all out with muscle problems.
First senior call-ups awarded to Real Betis goalkeeper Alvaro Valles , midfielder Marc Roca , and Como defender Jacobo Ramon .
Pablo Barrios (Atletico Madrid) and Ander Barrenetxea (Real Sociedad) are recalled to the squad.
Spain have already qualified for the quarterfinals but need a top-of-group finish ahead of Croatia .
De la Fuente backed Martin Zubimendi and Marc Roca to cover for Rodri, calling Zubimendi 'very fresh' due to limited Arsenal minutes.
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente on Friday, 6 November named a 27-man squad for the final two UEFA Nations League group-stage fixtures — away to the Czech Republic on 12 November and at home against England on 15 November at the Metropolitano Stadium — with three FC Barcelona regulars ruled out through injury.
Who Is Missing and Why
Defender Eric Garcia, midfielder Dani Olmo, and holding midfielder Rodri Hernandez — all from Barcelona — have been sidelined with muscle problems, forcing the coach to reshape his selections. Rodri's absence is particularly notable given his profile as one of Europe's most influential defensive midfielders and his recent Ballon d'Or recognition.
Fresh Faces in the Call-Up
Real Betis goalkeeper Alvaro Valles and midfielder Marc Roca, alongside Como defender Jacobo Ramon, have each received their first senior international call-up. Atletico Madrid midfielder Pablo Barrios and Real Sociedad winger Ander Barrenetxea have been recalled to the squad after earlier absences.
De la Fuente explained the selection of Ramon at his press conference: 'Jacobo is having a great season and also doing a great job with the Under-21s (...) we think it is a good moment to see him.' On Valles, he said he had 'been following Valles since his spell at Las Palmas. He is doing very well, and I think that it is important for him to experience the context of the national team and become part of this great family.'
Group Standing and What Is at Stake
The reigning world champions have already secured a quarterfinal berth after winning all four of their opening group matches, but the final two fixtures carry significance: Spain must ensure they finish top of a group that also contains Croatia. De la Fuente described the upcoming games as 'two key games in which we have a lot to play for,' adding that 'in every game we play, we consider the efforts that the players make.'
Covering for Rodri
De la Fuente expressed confidence that Martin Zubimendi and newly called-up Marc Roca can fill the void left by Rodri. Notably, the coach pointed out that Zubimendi's limited playing time at Arsenal meant he would be 'very fresh' for Spain's demands — a candid acknowledgement of the Spanish midfielder's bench role at his club.
Full Squad
Goalkeepers: Unai Simon, David Raya, Joan Garcia, Alvaro Valles.
Defenders: Pedro Porro, Marc Pubill, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Cubarsi, Dean Huijsen, Jacobo Ramon, Marc Cucurella, Alex Grimaldo.
Midfielders: Martin Zubimendi, Fabian Ruiz, Pedri, Mikel Merino, Fermin Lopez, Pablo Barrios, Marc Roca, Alex Baena.
Forwards: Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, Yeremy Pino, Mikel Oyarzabal, Ferran Torres, Ander Barrenetxea, Roberto Fernandez.
With group leadership still on the line, Spain's depth will be tested in Madrid and Prague over the coming week.
Point of View
Not just a squad management headache — this is not the first time the Barcelona midfielder has been unavailable at a critical international window. De la Fuente's comfort with Zubimendi as cover is reassuring, but the Arsenal midfielder's bench role at club level raises a legitimate fitness-versus-sharpness question. The debut call-ups for Valles and Roca signal that Spain's post-Euro depth-building project is real, not cosmetic. Whether a squad missing three Barcelona starters can still top a group containing Croatia and England will be the truest test of that depth yet.
NationPress
6 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Eric Garcia, Dani Olmo and Rodri missing from Spain's squad?
All three Barcelona players — Eric Garcia, Dani Olmo and Rodri Hernandez — have been ruled out with muscle injuries and were unavailable for selection for the November UEFA Nations League fixtures.
Who are the new call-ups in Spain's squad?
Spain have handed first senior international call-ups to Real Betis goalkeeper Alvaro Valles, Real Betis midfielder Marc Roca, and Como defender Jacobo Ramon for the matches against the Czech Republic and England.
What are the upcoming Spain UEFA Nations League fixtures?
Spain face the Czech Republic away on 12 November and host England at the Metropolitano Stadium on 15 November in the final two group-stage matches of the UEFA Nations League.
Has Spain already qualified for the UEFA Nations League quarterfinals?
Yes, Spain have secured their quarterfinal place after winning all four of their opening group-stage matches. However, they still need to top the group ahead of Croatia, making the final two matches competitive.
Who will cover for Rodri Hernandez in midfield?
Coach Luis de la Fuente has indicated that Martin Zubimendi and Marc Roca will cover the defensive midfield role. He noted that Zubimendi's limited playing time at Arsenal would leave him 'very fresh' for Spain.
