New look Spain for Enrique's return to the dugout
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E-mail Xinhua, September 3, 2020
The Spain national team play their first game since November in Germany on Thursday when Luis Enrique makes his return to the dugout following the sacking of Roberto Moreno last year.
After nearly a year without a game and with Luis Enrique's return, it is hard to predict just what to expect, but the coach gave a declaration of intent when he named his squad by including youngsters such as Barcelona's Ansi Fati, Manchester City's Eric Garcia and Ferran Torres and left-back Sergio Reguilon, who last season won the Europa League with Sevilla.
Athletic Club Bilbao keeper Unai Simon was another new face in the squad, and he could get the nod in goal ahead of David de Gea and Kepa, after Manchester United and Chelsea keepers have come in for criticism recently.
Luis Enrique has suffered setbacks with Real Madrid's Marco Asensio forced to withdraw from the squad. At the same time, Mikel Oyarzabal tested positive for the coronavirus at the weekend and was replaced by Gerard Moreno and Adama Traore hasn't been given a squad number after an inconclusive test result for the virus.
Many would have named Gerard, who ended last season as the top-scoring Spaniard in La Liga, in the original squad and the Villarreal striker has a good chance of making the starting 11.
Meanwhile, there will be plenty of attention on Barcelona's midfield veteran, Sergio Busquets, who was one of the players who signaled for blame following his side's 8-2 thrashing by Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
Although Busquets has made the squad, other more experienced players such as Jordi Alba or Atletico Madrid's Saul Niguez have been left out and that could give another newcomer - Mikel Merino (who spend two years playing for Borussia Dortmund) the chance to start in what is going to be a new-look side.
The absence of Inigo Martinez means Pau Torres or Diego Llorente will partner Sergio Ramos in defense, with either Reguilon or Gaya at left-back, while Rodri and Mikel Merino could start in midfield, with Gerard and new Leeds United signing, Rodrigo Moreno in attack.
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