Spain manager Luis Enrique clarifies why he snubbed PSG’s Sergio Ramos and Liverpool’s Thiago for the 2022 FIFA World Cup
Spain manager Luis Enrique made a brave decision by leaving out PSG great Sergio Ramos and Liverpool standout Thiago Alcantara for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Ramos served as Spain’s captain for the 2018 World Cup. From 2006 to 2018, he represented La Roja four times in the competition.
Despite being a mainstay for his team this season, the PSG defender will have to watch his country from home. This season, the 36-year-old has appeared in 19 games for the Parisians, starting 18 of them.
Thiago Alcantara, on the other hand, was a member of Spain’s national team at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. This season, he has made 13 appearances for the Reds, starting 11 of them.
Enrique explained his choice to leave out the two outstanding players, saying (via Liverpool Echo):
Spain have left some serious talent at home 😳 pic.twitter.com/D1ysgAtgQQ
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) November 11, 2022
“The message is of thanks. I know it’s a disappointment. They deserved to be here, but only 26 can be in the squad. If it were a normal World Cup, we would integrate the physical needs into the training, but halfway through the season we are not going to work on the physical level of a player.
“I’m not going to go into the players that aren’t on the list. I thank everyone who has helped us get here, but now the important ones are the 26 called up. We have a lot of young people, but also veterans. There is a good mix.”
Apart from Thiago Alcantara and Sergio Ramos, David de Gea of Manchester United has been left out of Spain’s roster. The goalie was also left off the team’s preliminary 55-man roster.
Spain #WC squad 🇪🇸
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 11, 2022
▫️ Simon, Sanchez, Raya;
▫️ Carvajal, Azpilicueta, Garcia, Guillamón, Pau Torres, Laporte, Alba, Gayà;
▫️ Busquets, Rodri, Gavi, Carlos Soler, M. Llorente, Pedri, Koke;
▫️ Ferran Torres, Nico Williams, Yeremy Pino, Morata, Asensio, Sarabia, Olmo, Ansu Fati. pic.twitter.com/HTuFCKyBPj
Spain manager Luis Enrique clarifies why he snubbed PSG’s Sergio Ramos and Liverpool’s Thiago for the 2022 FIFA World Cup
