De la Fuente keeps Unai Simón and calls in Josep Martínez

Spain is back in action with four Nations League matches and Luis de la Fuente unveiled the squad.

The big talking point is in goal. Unai Simón is kept as the coach’s preferred option, while Josep Martínez takes the place of Joan García, who is unavailable due to injury, according to Mundo Deportivo.

Nations League focus

In his press room comments, De la Fuente also linked his thinking to the Balón de Oro, saying they have analysed the best goalkeepers and that, among the ten considered, three are Spanish. He added that the three he pointed to are the same ones who were at the World Cup.

He sounded confident about whichever choice the team makes: “To whoever we pick, we’re very calm,” and argued that, for him, they are “three of the top five goalkeepers in the world.”

Then he underlined why he wants to stick with the current starter: “Unai Simón was named best goalkeeper at the World Cup and he set records.” De la Fuente concluded with the line that sums it up: “Maybe he needs a bit more continuity.”

Injury forces change

Alongside that message, there is one clear update to the squad: Joan García drops out because of his injury, and Josep Martínez comes in for this Nations League window, setting up a campaign where Spain sticks with its main reference in goal while adjusting due to the medical situation.