Spain is about to close out an unforgettable year. Last summer, they lifted the World Cup trophy for the second time in their history. In a few days, they will play their final international matches of 2026.
The nation is still shrouded in sadness after last week's tragic train accident, and Spain is mourning the victims. The team will play its final two matches of 2026: an away game against the Czech Republic on Thursday, November 12, at the Sparta Prague stadium, and, three days later, a home game against England at the Metropolitano Stadium.
After four consecutive wins, head coach Luis de la Fuente and his team hope to stay top of their UEFA Nations League group.
If they finish first in the group, they will play the second leg of the Nations League quarter-finals at home and could avoid France, Portugal and the Netherlands. The decisive match against England will be played in Madrid.
According to Marca, there is little suspense regarding the squad list Luis de la Fuente will announce next Friday.
The form the team showed a month ago adds to the confidence of the world champions. After winning the World Cup, this team does not need extra motivation; it is already full of desire to win.
There will be some new faces on the list. Two players who took part in the World Cup but missed the previous camp will return: Joan García and Porro.
The Tottenham Hotspur full-back was a key player at the World Cup, but two subsequent injuries kept him off the pitch. He returned on the 24th of last month and was part of the team that beat Chelsea.
In addition, the injury absences of Eric García and Olmo have been confirmed, which opens opportunities for other players.
In defense, Marc Pubill performed excellently at right-back in the matches against England and the two games against Croatia. This means that, in addition to Iván Fresneda (who started against the Czech Republic in Oviedo), another center-back could be called up to join Laporte, Cubarsí and Dean Huijsen.
This is where the name Jacobo Ramón emerges. The Como center-back is one of the most surprising discoveries in Serie A, and he has also played in the Champions League for the team coached by Fàbregas.
Two other players in this position are also being closely watched: the versatile Javi Rodríguez (Celta de Vigo) and the physically strong Jon Martín (Real Sociedad).
It is worth mentioning that Spain's U21 team will play two friendly matches this season: the first in Almendralejo against Japan, and the second in Tirana, Albania.
Martial Godo must also prepare a plan for the U21 European Championship well in advance, as foreign clubs may not release players for the tournament, which does not coincide with a FIFA international match window.
The tournament will take place from June 16 to July 3, and the draw will be held on November 26 at the Sava Centar in Belgrade.
One case to watch is Martín Zubimendi, an absolutely key player in Luis de la Fuente's squad. Since the coach took office, Zubimendi and David Raya are the only two players who have been called up every time. However, his role at Arsenal has diminished considerably.
This season, his playing time in both the league and the Champions League has dropped sharply. He started both League Cup matches, but the team lost to lowly Fleetwood last week.
Since last March, he has played only one full match, Arsenal's final league game of the season. By then, Arteta's team had already won the Premier League title and was focused on the Champions League final.
Another case is Barrios, who made his national team debut two years ago but has seen his career plagued by recurring injuries.
Barrios is an ideal candidate to fill the void left by Olmo's absence, but Luis de la Fuente is also looking at Real Betis' Isco and Fornals as options closer to the attacking midfield role.
Other names under consideration include Yeremy, Pablo García and Alberto Moleiro.
In attack, after Oyarzabal and Ferran Torres, Luis de la Fuente is looking for a pure striker, a traditional center-forward.
He took Iglesias to the World Cup, relied on Roberto Fernández, and finally called up Carlos Espí. If Espí gets more playing time, he could become the new Joselu, but so far he has played very little.
The notable change in this squad is the return of Samu Aghehowa. Although the forward has not yet truly shone with the Spain team, he offers a completely different type of center-forward profile, suited to emergencies and to open, fast-paced games.