Nacho Monreal has been included in Spain’s World Cup squad ahead of this summer’s tournament in Russia.
The left-back, who recently came second in Arsenal’s Player of the Season vote, has been rewarded for his consistently good performances over the last 18 months.
? OFICIAL | 46 millones de ilusiones en sus botas, en sus manos… ¡¡ESTOS SON #NUESTROS23!!
? ¡RT PARA APOYARNOS! pic.twitter.com/XBx0e4uOcB
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Great news for Nacho, who should add to his 21 caps, however, it’s bad news for Hector Bellerin who has missed out.
Bellerin, 23, made the cut two years ago for Euro 2016 but has been overlooked this time in favour of Real Sociedad’s Alvaro Odriozola and Real Madrid’s Dani Carvajal.
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Full Spain squad
Goalkeepers: David de Gea, Pepe Reina, Kepa Arrizabalaga
Defenders: Dani Carvajal, Alvaro Odriozola, Gerard Piqué, Sergio Ramos, Nacho, Cesar Azpilicueta, Jordi Alba, Nacho Monreal
Midfielders: Sergio Busquets, Saul, Koke, Thiago Alcantara, Andres Iniesta, David Silva
Forwards: Isco, Sergio Asensio, Lucas Vazquez, Iago Aspas, Rodrigo, Elephant Man
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As far as we can tell, only seven Arsenal players will be in Russia this summer.
In addition to Nacho, David Ospina will play for Colombia, midfield trio Mesut Ozil, Granit Xhaka and Mohamed Elneny will feature for Germany, Switzerland and Egypt respectively, while Alex Iwobi and Danny Welbeck have been given the nod by Nigeria and England.
We’re guessing here, but that could well be the fewest players we’ve had a major tournament in quite some time.
Not surprised with Bellerin but congratulations and good luck to Nacho. Looks like we’ll be having quite a fresh squad come next season.
Bellerin just hasn’t been good or consistent enough lately. Nacho has a great year and he deserves it
This…is ‘Too darned hot’….
Midfielders: Sergio Busquets, Saul, Koke, Thiago Alcantara, Andres Iniesta, David Silva
Nacho is one of a few players in our current squad who deserves to wear the shirt. This is a big testament to Nacho considering the amount of talent for Spain to pick from.
Could be a big boost for us early in the year to have so few in the WC this Summer. Tough for Bellerin I know, but certainly wasn’t because he doesn’t play as he played plenty, but just didn’t show enough. Congrats to Nacho, well deserved for him.
Tough for Bellerin, really ? He already admitted there was high probability he wouldn’t go. Will be into fashion over the summer.
You know, there’s nothing wrong with fashion? It’s not like he’s thinking of selecting his wardrobe while on the pitch, and every sane human needs some kind of leisure activity. He’s also a smart and humble kid, and there’s no need to try to paint him like some kind of miscreant.
He’s young and developing, and was given no favors by the team formation last season. Don’t be rude to the players for no reason…
8 players, Joel Campbell’s in the Costa Rica squad and potentially 9 with Asano’s in Japan’s squad for their upcoming friendlies.
You’re trying hard to up the count there. Let me help you: Giroud spent half of the season with us and that counts half.
If they participate, Asano and Campbell will be recorded as Arsenal players.
Spain and France’s respective “dropped” elevens can give a lot of teams a run for their money.
So often we struggle in World Cup years; this time we need to take advantage of how few players we’re sending to Russia, including just three regular starters (Nacho, Xhaka, Ozil).
Even with the WC-bound players returning late, most of the squad can have a full pre-season, and we can start the new season with a very decent first XI (not including new arrivals) of Cech, Bellerin, Mustafi, Chambers, Kolasinac, AMN, Ramsey, Wilshere, Mkhitaryan, Aubameyang, Lacazette.
Hope new arrivals have been at the World Cup cause if you’re not good enough for your country, you can’t improve Arsenal. Exception is Laca of course. Have I missed a right back, cough, cough ?
Spain went huge on Nacho’s
Elephant man! ? Huge diss to the musician!
Apparently I’m not allowed to like this comment ?
Nacho’s in, Marcos Alonso’s out hahahhahaha
Why is it so funny. Totally different positions.
It’s funny because Marco Alonso plays for Blue sc*m.
I would like to see the confusion when coach will say Nacho Monreal, you playing!
More surprising that we have no single Arsenal player in that French squad. Must be the first time in decades.
In think 1996 was the last time, end of an era…
We will see less players from France from now on as the Wenger connection isn’t there for us anymore.
Not if Emery becomes new manager
Giroud still counts. (・`ω´・ ●)
Bloody massively looking forward to the World Cup. Hopefully top class footy, and I couldn’t give a shit who wins or loses, so stress free. Bring it.
Joel Campbell for Costa Rico. It’s really strange not to have an Arsenal player in the France squad–Koscielny injured, Giroud gone, Lacazette not chosen.
AFC players in world cups (source: Wikipedia)
2014: 10
2010: 12
2006: 15 (most of all clubs)
2002: 11
1998: 7
1994: 1 (McGoldrick)
This pretty much correlates with the quality of the team over that period.
not really… 94 we won the cup winners cup, but had a mostly English squad and they were not at the World Cup.
98 and 02 were both double winning sides, but the figure for each falls short of that for 2010 when we doing nothing much in any competition.
You’ve got to take into account what team they are playing for in the World cup. Only Nacho and Ozil are playing in sides which might win this competition – our ’98 players were crucial to France winning the thing
Spain, Brazil and Germany could have 2 teams in this tournament…wow!
France – I still feel they will implode somehow. Pogba will start arguing with everyone and they will down tools or something. Evra will come back to karate kick the coach or something, haha.
Belgium – Hazard will find out he doesn’t get paid for the World Cup and stop trying.
It’s Marco Asensio (not Sergio).
He lost the opportunity to compete for a starting spot in the Spain team with his poor form.. but losing his place altogether was a surprise. I though he would get into the team for his pure athleticism. Also I though he is their future RB.. Would this disappointment make him transfer for a better defensive team that does not expose him a lot?
The guy was once selected for a competition due to injuries to others and to reward a young player who was surging. He’s never been a regular in the team really.
their way to convince Bellerin he needs to move back to Spain to get a national team spot?
Disappointed for Hector and, possibly unpopularly, for Cesc.
They may regret letting Cesc behind. He has been good for them since age 17. I think a player like him is in your starting eleven or shouldn’t be in the team at all. Wouldn’t be happy on the bench.
Didn’t Cesc come on as a sub and make the assist to win the final in 2010?
Was watching the Europa final and was really impressed with the Marseille right back. Forgot his name and it was only one game but technically so much better than Bellerin. I just wonder if Bellerin can improve more. Not the worst right back we have but also not that good. A good summer break would help him.
His name is Bouna Sarr and yes, he’s had a very decent season for Marseille.
Nacho and Monreal deserves 2 lot..
Outstanding season
Mr Consistent
Blogs,
What going on with the up likes and down likes?
It doesn’t let up vote or down vote any comments
Good call I reckon. Hector hasn’t exactly been on fire this season. Not all his fault of course… but facts is facts.
Gabon and Armenia is not good enough for the world cup but Auba and Mkitharyan certainly is. Kos is injured aswell. Could have been 10.
Blessing in disguise. We’ll have a fairly rested squad and a good preseason. I hope they sort out the manager issue early so as to give him enough time to make the necessary additions/offloads in good time for preseason.
I’m not allowed to vote. Why Bloggs? ?
I almost googled who this Spaniard Elephant Man was haha
Are people having trouble thumbing up or down? Just says I’m not allowed to vote for this comment. Maybe because I’m a bit of a tool. I don’t know…
I read a report that claims that the recently sacked PSG boss!!! He recently won the treble with PSG and did rather well at Sevilla!!! Kinda makes more sense to bring in someone with experience but we will see!!!
Elephant man – made me laugh more than it probably should have. Cheers Blogs ! ??
As I said, anyone who thinks we still have plenty of allure needs to get their heads checked. At the world cup, we hardly have any of the shining stars of the present or future. Bellerin could have been one but off of a disappointing season ( in part due to the system we play) he has been left out. Nacho will be back up only. Maybe Granit who has improved over second half of season will put in a performance for the Swiss or Iwobi for Nigeria (he is still relatively young and will improve) Even Ozil is hardly… Read more »
With regards potential manager, again I am not sure what the benefit of an inexperienced manager is to us other than lowest expectations and ability to control him at expense of a balancing voice to counter weight against the potential excesses of Mslintat/Sanheli doing business at expediency to contacts rather than to squad balance. Again, Laurent Blanc is still available. He is only 52yrs. He’s won with frugal Bordeaux (with Chamakh), then took over a difficult period at Les Bleus in wake of Domenech and finally delivered at PSG managing expectations. His win rate never fell below an average of… Read more »
Will Bernd Leno count if we sign him before the start of the tournament?
Please make this happen!
dang. we got Nacho AND Monreal in that team?
looking at the quality of strikers they have, they should be going for a false 9 with isco?
anyway, when was the last time we had so little representation at a major international tournament? I dont have the numbers, but i would think we’d have like 10-15 players on international
I think Jack should have gone; England are going to miss him.
Gutted! i dont know Odriozola but i hate him!