Madrid, November 11 (BNA) Spain plays its crucial World Cup qualifiers against Greece and Sweden without some key players due to injuries.
Nine players are unavailable for coach Luis Enrique for the matches against Greece on Thursday and against Sweden on Sunday.
Spain plays its last two matches in second place in Group Two, two points behind Sweden and four ahead of third-placed Greece. Only the group winners qualify directly for next year’s tournament in Qatar, while the second-place winners will play a playoff match, the Associated Press reported.
Pedri Gonzalez, Ferran Torres and Marcos Llorente, who helped lead Spain to the semi-finals of the European Championship a few months ago, are among those Luis Enrique was unable to call up.
Also missing from the Euro 2020 squad were Gerard Moreno, Mikel Oyarzabal and Eric Garcia.
Garcia was injured while playing with Barcelona in the Spanish League, as was the young striker Ansu Fati, who was returning to the national team after a long absence due to another injury.
Yereme Pino was another player who was injured and had to be substituted after being called up.
Luis Enrique said Wednesday that Mikel Merino is unlikely to play on Thursday, although he will remain with the team.
“We have to focus on what we can control,” Luis Enrique said. “I am happy with the players I was able to sign. Fortunately, I am a coach who can choose from at least 60 players of high quality. We are ready.”
The coach has managed to get a few players back after recovering from recent injuries, including Pau Torres, Jose Luis Gaya, Jordi Alba, Alvaro Morata and Dani Olmo.
Two wins will be enough for Spain to take first place in their group and qualify for the World Cup without relying on other results.
A draw with Greece would at least ensure a second place in the group, which would send Spain into the playoffs against the other nine runners-up and group winners from the UEFA Nations League. Twelve countries will be drawn into three brackets from four teams and will play next March. The seeded teams get a home match in the semi-finals.
Sweden’s victory over fourth-placed Georgia on Thursday and Spain’s tie with Greece will ensure the Swedes’ first place.
Spain has qualified for every World Cup since 1978, winning its only title in 2010 in South Africa. Eliminated by host country Russia in the Round of 16 of the 2018 World Cup.
“I can’t imagine a World Cup without Spain,” said striker Brahim Diaz. “We have two finals and we have to win them.”