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Three unproven Spain players could secure World Cup spots by impressing Luis Enrique this month

sportsmole.co.uk, 21 September 2022, 09:30
Spain will take on Switzerland and Portugal in the UEFA Nations League on September 24 and September 27 respectively, but it would be fair to say that their focus is firmly on the 2022 World Cup.

Luis Enrique's side will open their tournament against Costa Rica on November 23 before also taking on Germany and Japan in the group stage of the competition.

La Roja won the World Cup in 2010 but have not made an impression in their last two tournaments, going out in the group stage in 2014 before only reaching the round of 16 four years later.

Enrique has insisted that "the door is not closed to any Spanish player" at this stage, with the 52-year-old yet to make a final decision on his squad for the World Cup.

However, Sports Mole looks at three players who could potentially secure their spots at the 2022 competition by putting in strong performances this month.

Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao)

Nico Williams is in the Spain squad for the first time, with the 20-year-old rewarded for his strong start to the season with Athletic Bilbao.

The attacker has scored twice and provided two assists in six La Liga appearances this term, playing a key role in his side's impressive beginning to the 2022-23 campaign.

At this moment in time, Spain are not blessed with a number of top-quality right-sided attackers, and there is every chance that Williams could sneak into the squad.

The youngster would need to keep impressing for Athletic, and indeed take his chance in the upcoming Nations League fixtures, but there is a spot open in the squad for Williams, who would certainly give La Roja a dangerous option off the bench.

Borja Iglesias (Real Betis)

Raul de Tomas is back out of favour, and there are not too many true centre-forwards for Enrique to choose from in Spain, so it was not a surprise that Borja Iglesias was included in the latest squad.

At 29, he is hardly a long-term option, but it would have been difficult for Enrique to ignore the powerful striker considering his form for Real Betis.

Iglesias scored 19 times during an impressive 2021-22 campaign at club level, while he has struck six goals and registered one assist in six La Liga appearances this term.

There was a time when Spain had some of the best strikers in world football but that is no longer the case, and Enrique will want a different option to Alvaro Morata in the final third.

Should Iglesias take the chance to impress in the upcoming games with Switzerland and Portugal then there is every chance that he will be on the plane to the World Cup.

Yeremi Pino (Villarreal)

Unlike Williams and Iglesias, Pino has already represented Spain, turning out for the senior side on four occasions, contributing one goal in the process.

The 19-year-old is in the latest squad alongside the likes of Morata, Ferran Torres, Marco Asensio, Pablo Sarabia, Iglesias and Williams, and he will also be determined to be on the plane to the World Cup.

Pino's ability to operate in a number of different forward positions makes him an attractive proposition for Enrique, and the attacker has again been a regular for Villarreal this season, making eight appearances, contributing one goal and one assist in the process.

He has played a lot of football for a teenager, representing the Yellow Submarine on 85 occasions in all competitions and has experience of top-level European football in the Champions League.

Pino was on the scoresheet for Spain in the friendly with Iceland back in March, and he should be given another chance to impress in the games with Switzerland and Portugal.

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