Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has defended his decision to include Jesus Navas ahead of Tottenham defender Pedro Porro for his side’s Euro 2024 campaign this summer.
De la Fuente announced his provisional 29-man squad on Monday and will cut three players from the list after Spain’s friendlies against Andorra and Northern Ireland in June.
Porro has been one of Spurs’ standout performers at right-back this season with three goals and seven assists in the Premier League.
But it wasn’t enough for the Spurs defender to make Spain’s preliminary squad ahead of Real Madrid’s Dani Carvajal and 38-year-old Navas, who plays for Sevilla in La Liga.
When asked about his decision to include Navas in his squad, De la Fuente said at his press conference: ‘Jesus Navas can contribute a lot to the team.
‘He is one of the captains, he is an example, he is part of the history of our team. He’s won a World Cup, a European Championship and a Nations League. He is an example every day, he transmits it to all of us. He can contribute a lot to us in the dressing room, in addition to all the football talent he has.
SPAIN PROVISIONAL SQUAD FOR EURO 2024
Goalkeepers: Unai Simon (Athletic Bilbao), David Raya (Arsenal), Alex Remiro (Real Sociedad)
Defenders: Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid), Jesus Navas (Sevilla), Aymeric Laporte (Al Nassr), Robin Le Normand (Real Sociedad), Nacho (Real Madrid), Dani Vivian (Athletic Bilbao), Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona), Alejandro Grimaldo (Leverkusen), Marc Cucurella (Chelsea)
Midfielders: Rodri (Manchester City), Martin Zubimendi (Real Sociedad), Mikel Merino (Real Sociedad), Fabian Ruiz (PSG), Pedri (Barcelona), Marcos Llorente (Atlético), Aleix Garcia (Girona), Alex Baena (Villarreal), Fermin Lopez (Barcelona)
Forwards: Ferran Torres (Barcelona), Dani Olmo (Leipzig), Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Alvaro Morata (Atletico), Joselu (Real Madrid), Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), Ayoze Perez (Real Betis)
‘He has gone through difficult times, like all his teammates, and he has always been up to the task. Jesus Navas never fails. I also take this opportunity to say it. There are footballers who are born to compete for their clubs, but especially in the national team. He is one of them who transforms when he puts on the national team shirt.
‘It seems that he was born to be an international footballer. We celebrate him.
‘We are very delighted that he is here with us and has the excitement he has after having won everything he has won. He still thinks he can still improve.’
De la Fuente has also come under fire for opting to select Chelsea left-back Marc Cucurella ahead of Miguel Gutierrez, who has been one of Girona’s impressive performers in La Liga this season.
‘There are those who we believe are better in our approach,’ De la Fuente said.
‘We believe that Cucurella and [Alejandro] Grimaldo have done the job very well and have earned it.
‘Within the scenarios we propose, they are the best for us. Right now they are the best 29 players to defend our idea.’
Spain’s Euro 2024 campaign begins with a tough game against Croatia on June 15.
They will also play Italy and Albania in Group B.
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