No Sergio Ramos, David de Gea in Spain's FIFA World Cup 2022 squad

Twenty-year-old forward Ansu Fati returned to Spain’s squ on Friday following a two-year absence, joining coach Luis Enrique’s young team for World Cup.

Ansu has t played for Spain since making his fourth appearance as a teenr in October 2020 shortly after breaking record for Spain’s youngest scorer. His spectacular start for Spain and Barcelona was cut short by leg injuries and he has yet to establish himself as a starter with his club.

“I h doubts until last minute. We kw Ansu well because we believed in him before ors, but he has been through a difficult process,” Luis Enrique said. “Our mission is to help him get back to his best version. Is he close? Yes? ? We will see. I believe this will be a huge motivation for him.”

Besides Fati, re were or major surprises when Luis Enrique anunced his 26-man squ. former midfielder, who will coach his first World Cup after playing in three, will rely on a young bunch in Qatar, including Barcelona midfielders Pedri González (19) and Gavi Paéz (18). In June, Gavi broke Ansu’s record by scoring his first goal for Spain at 17 years, 304 days old.

Luis Enrique guided a similar Spain squ to semifinals of last year’s European Championship. But this team only has one pure striker in Atlético Mrid forward Álvaro Morata. Luis Enrique said he won’t solely depend on Morata with Ferran Torres, Dani Olmo and Ansu likely to play. coach ded that Marco Asensio can act as a “false nine” if needed.

Protecting goal will still be left to Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Unai Simón. Aymeric Laporte, Pau Torres and Éric García will likely anchor defense, with Jordi Alba at left back. Sergio Busquets, with 139 appearances at 34, will again act as team captain from midfield. Busquets is sole remaining member of Spain’s World Cup-winning team from 2010.

Spain’s players will travel on Monday to Jordan, where y will play a friendly against that country’s national team on v. 17. y will n fly to Doha, where team will have its base camp during World Cup.

Spain will play its opening match at World Cup against Costa Rica on v. 23. Spain will also face Germany and Japan in Group E.

“We are going to war in Qatar,” Luis Enrique said.

When asked if he h a problem with holding event in Qatar, which has been criticized for its attitudes towards LGBTQ community and treatment of migrant worker, Luis Enrique replied “ne at all.”

“(Qatar) is a country that is involved in situations of conflict,” he said. “You can eir focus on positive to try to create a more just situation, or you can focus on problems. I focus on soccer. I am t a politician.”

___

Spain:

Goalkeepers: Unai Simón (Athletic Bilbao), Robert Sánchez (Brighton), David Raya (Brentford).

Defenders: Aymeric Laporte (Manchester City), Pau Torres (Villarreal), Jordi Alba (Barcelona), José Gayà (Valencia), Hugo Guillamón (Valencia), Eric García (Barcelona), César Azpilicueta (Chelsea), Dani Carvajal (Real Mrid)

Midfielders: Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Rodri Hernández (Manchester City), Pedri González (Barcelona), Koke Resurrección (Atlético Mrid), Gavi Páez (Barcelona), Carlos Soler (Paris Saint-Germain), Marcos Llorente (Atlético Mrid)

Forwards: Pablo Sarabia (Paris Saint-Germain), Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Marco Asensio (Real Mrid), Álvaro Morata (Atlético Mrid), Yeremy Pi (Villarreal), Ferran Torres (Barcelona), Dani Olmo (Leipzig), Ansu Fati (Barcelona)