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De la Fuente considering Spain debut for Barcelona goalkeeper Garcia

  /  autty

Luis de la Fuente is considering handing a senior international debut to Joan Garcia when Spain face Serbia, with several other players likely to get a chance alongside the Barcelona goalkeeper.

Garcia, who has been capped up to under-21 level by his country and won an Olympic gold medal as part of an under-23 side in 2024, got his first senior call-up last week.

He has been excellent since joining Barcelona from Espanyol last June, keeping 15 clean sheets in 36 matches across all competitions.

Garcia has also recorded the best save percentage of any goalkeeper in LaLiga this season at 78.7%, and according to his expected goals on target (xGoT) figures, he has prevented 10.4 goals this term, conceding 15 times from 25.4 xGoT (excluding penalties and own goals).

Despite Unai Simon's status as La Roja's number one, the Blaugrana shot-stopper could start against Serbia in Villarreal, with De la Fuente keen to have a look at him.

"We are going to see how the games develop, and we will see if we can give a chance to those who have not lived this international experience," De la Fuente said. 

"But we won't gift anything to anyone, because they have all earned the right to be here. 

"We are already playing in the World Cup, and that is what we are thinking about. We are going to approach these as official matches."

De la Fuente also acknowledged that his final squad for the World Cup – where Spain will face Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay in Group H – will look different to the party he has available this week.

But the Euro 2024-winning coach cannot wait for La Roja's first World Cup game on June 15, saying: "There is a restlessness for sure, because I am also like this. 

"I'm more excited than I was, because the focus is already on the World Cup. If I don't feel it, I can't transmit it. I'm excited, with a fantastic desire to get closer to the World Cup. 

"I'm sure that at the World Cup there will be players who are not here today. They have to do a lot to be here."

Spain are unbeaten in 31 competitive matches, matching the longest run set by a team that has won the World Cup (previously by Italy), with De la Fuente taking charge of 26 of those contests (20 wins, six draws).

Related: Barcelona