Spain Train in Las Rozas With Tribute to de Miguel and Fan Euphoria
The Spanish national team held its first training session at the Ciudad del Fútbol in Las Rozas with an emotional tribute to Jesús de Miguel
The first training session of the Spanish national team at the Ciudad del Fútbol de Las Rozas combined the emotion of the tribute paid at the start to Tenerife forward Jesús de Miguel, who died on the 3rd, with the fresh mass outpouring from the fans towards Luis de la Fuente's squad.
After the camp began at midday for the final two group-stage matches of the Nations League against the Czech Republic and England, La Roja held their first preparatory session at the training complex.
With the stands packed and the standing area full, the team walked onto the pitch led by De la Fuente, goalkeeper Unai Simón and forward Ferran Torres carrying a bouquet of flowers and a national team shirt bearing De Miguel's name and the number 9, which they laid in the centre of the pitch.
They then gathered around the centre circle to observe a minute's silence in memory of 'Demi', rounded off with an ovation from the players, the coaching staff and the hundreds of fans.
The tribute to the Tenerife player, who died from a cardiorespiratory arrest after the heavy blow he received in the match against Andorra, also involved thirteen under-21 players who joined the session under De la Fuente's orders.
The Rioja-born coach and the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) had already paid an initial tribute to De Miguel, as well as to the victims of the Urda train accident, last Friday in the video announcing the squad list for the matches against the Czechs, this Thursday the 12th in Prague, and the English, on Sunday the 15th at the Metropolitano stadium in Madrid.
Euphoria, absences and new faces in the squad
When the minute's silence ended, which the entire crowd observed strictly, and the players spread out to begin training with some rondos, the mood turned to euphoria as fans shouted to the players to get their attention, especially Cucurella and Ferran Torres, the most sought-after.
De la Fuente has named 27 players for the two matches, although 23 took part in the first session, since Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal, with discomfort in his right knee, and Real Sociedad forward Mikel Oyarzabal, with flu, will join during the week but will not play in Prague.
Lamine Yamal continues his recovery in Barcelona and Oyarzabal in San Sebastián, which led the coach to call up Liverpool winger Víctor Muñoz, also absent from training as he will arrive at the camp tonight.
Also missing from the pitch were Athletic Club winger Nico Williams due to a minor indisposition and Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya, who has De la Fuente's permission to attend to personal matters in London.
This led him to call up a fourth goalkeeper, Álvaro Valles of Betis, one of three new faces at the camp alongside his fellow Verdiblanco Marc Roca and Como centre-back Jacobo Ramón.
Compared with the previous window, also new, though they have already played for La Roja, are Atlético de Madrid midfielder Pablo Barrios and Rayo Vallecano winger Jorge de Frutos, who has replaced Real Sociedad's Ander Barrenetxea due to a muscle injury.
Arsenal midfielder Martín Zubimendi trained wearing a mask after a blow to the nose in late October in a match with the London club.
Under-21s, autographs and the trip to Prague
At the end of the session, which lasted barely an hour, the players went over to the stands to sign autographs, sparking another wave of frenzy as fans tried to get one.
De la Fuente drafted in thirteen under-21 players to complete the session.
Among them were Real Madrid's Carlos Espí and Thiago Pitarch, Fulham forward Gonzalo García, Atlético de Madrid midfielder Rodrigo Mendoza, Betis full-back Ángel Ortiz, PSV defender Yarek Gasiorowski and Racing de Santander winger Pablo García.
The under-21s also began their camp in Las Rozas this Monday to prepare for friendlies against Japan and Albania on the 13th and 17th respectively, as did the under-17s, who will take part in the World Cup for their age group in Qatar from the 19th.
Tomorrow, Tuesday, the senior team will hold another training session, this time behind closed doors, and in the afternoon they will set off for Prague, venue of Thursday's match against the Czechs at the Letná stadium.
The RFEF has brought the squad's departure forward by a day to avoid problems on Wednesday, when a general strike has been called. EFE
