The Qatar World Cup is fast approaching and Spain are one of the fancied teams to go all the way.
A semi-final appearance at Euro 2020 and then a runners-up prize at the 2021 UEFA Nations League are a pretty good indication that this is a nation on the up…in contrast with Italy perhaps. And La Liga is one of the best leagues in the world, boasting the champions of Europe, Real Madrid, and packed to the limit with world-class talent.
Many of the Primera Division players will represent other countries in Qatar, but there have been plenty of homegrown players making the La Liga 2022 news too.
So let’s take a look at six of the La Liga stars who will be wearing the famous red of Spain in Qatar. It’s a relatively inexperienced squad in places, but there is bags of talent in the ranks and one or two old faces which are sure to feature.
Sergio Busquets: Barcelona
Luis Enrique is putting together an exciting young team but can anyone imagine Spain lining up with talismanic skipper Sergio Busquets? The Barcelona man has represented his country 137 times and, at 33 year of age, this might well be his last World Cup. He’s one of the best holding midfielders of all time, protecting his defence and allowing the creative players the space to thrive.
Busquets won a World Cup medal in 2010 at the start of his career. According to the La Liga 2022 betting odds Spain are one of the four favourites, and it would be a fine way to close the curtains on his career to lead La Roja to glory in Qatar.
Koke: Atletico Madrid
Koke is to Los Rojiblancos what Busquets is to the Blaugrana. The midfield ace has been at the Wanda Metropolitano since 2009, making 385 league appearances and scoring 37 goals, while he hasn’t scored for Spain in his 66 international appearances, he has become a key player for La Roja, progressing through the Under 19s and Under 21s to the full team.
He is a brilliant ball player and Koke can play on the left, the right or down the middle, in a more advanced position than Busquets, as a prolific creator of chances for his teammates.
Carlos Soler: Valencia
One of Spain’s new generation, the 25-year-old Soler already has 179 league games under his belt with Valencia and he is one of the most sought-after players in Europe. Barcelona have been tracking him and Los Ches will have a difficult task this summer to keep their main man. An attacking midfielder Soler is a big contributor to Valencia’s goal tally as a scorer and assist maker, and he has scored three goals in nine appearances for La Roja, including a volley after four minutes of his debut against Sweden last September.
Pau Torres: Villarreal
Here at SBOTOP we’ve been watching the progress of Pau Torres and we’re not alone.
He had an exceptional season with Villarreal, starring in the Champions League in victories over Juventus and FC Bayern, and he’s now one of the hottest properties in Europe. Premier League giants Manchester United are weighing up an approach for Torres and if they land the deal, the Red Devils will be getting a player at the peak of his powers.
Torres is one of the most comfortable defenders, on the ball, you are likely to see; he is fierce in the tackle and gets his fair share of goals. He could easily turn out to be one of the stars of the Qatar World Cup.
Unai Simon: Athletic Bilbao
Manchester United’s David de Gea is Spain’s highest-profile keeper but Athletic Bilbao stopper Unai Simon has staked his claim for the number one spot. He has been the first-choice keeper for Bilbao, over the past three campaigns, and he kept goal for Spain throughout the Euro 2020 campaign, putting in a man-of-the-match performance in the quarter-final victory over Switzerland, which included two penalty saves in the shootout.
Mikel Oyarzabal: Real Sociedad
25-year-old Mikel Oyarzabal, like Soler, has become his club’s talisman at a very young age. He made his debut for Real Sociedad in 2015 and has stayed at the Basque club ever since, racking up 63 goals in 224 league appearances. Oyarzabal can play as an attacking midfielder or a winger and he scored Spain’s goal in the Nations League final, picking up a ball from Busquets before beating the challenge of Dayot Upamecano to give La Roja the lead.
With six goals from 21 caps he has shown he can play at the highest level and Qatar is the perfect stage for Oyarzabal.
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