FILE - Manchester City’s Rodrigo runs on the pitch during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Manchester City and Inter Milan at the Etihad Stadium, in Manchester, England, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson, File)
FILE - Manchester City’s Rodrigo runs on the pitch during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Manchester City and Inter Milan at the Etihad Stadium, in Manchester, England, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson, File)
MADRID (AP) 鈥 Isco is back with Spain鈥檚 national team after a six-year absence, while Rodri remains out after a long injury layoff.
Coach Luis de la Fuente on Monday named 26 players for the Nations League semifinal against France on June 5 in Stuttgart. Germany and Portugal will play in the other semifinal on June 4 in Munich.
The 33-year-old Isco, the former Real Madrid player who is now with Real Betis, hadn’t been called up for Spain since 2019. His solid performances for Betis in the Spanish league earned him a spot in the national team again.
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鈥淚鈥檝e never paid attention to how long they鈥檝e been away,” De la Fuente said. “It was the right time for Isco to return, he鈥檒l be there and he鈥檒l contribute, because if I had thought otherwise, he wouldn鈥檛 have been there.鈥
Rodri recently returned for Manchester City after a long layoff because of a serious knee injury, but De la Fuente felt it was too soon to bring him back to the national team.
鈥淗e鈥檚 very important but has been out for eight months and played only 10 minutes,” De la Fuente said. 鈥淚鈥檝e spoken with him and we thought it wasn鈥檛 the time to take any risks.鈥
The coach did select midfielder Gavi, who also sustained a serious knee injury but played often for Barcelona this year.
鈥淗e鈥檚 at a high level and has room for improvement,鈥 De la Fuente said. 鈥淗e has to keep working to maintain the level he was at a little over a year ago.鈥
Included in the list, as expected, were Barcelona players Lamine Yamal, Pedri and Dani Olmo. Athletic’s Nico Williams also was called up. Some of those missing were defenders I帽igo Mart铆nez of Barcelona and Ra煤l Asencio of Real Madrid.
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Squad:
Goalkeepers: David Raya (Arsenal), 脕lex Remiro (Real Sociedad), Unai Sim贸n (Athletic Bilbao)
Defenders: Marc Cucurella (Chelsea), 脫scar Mingueza (Celta Vigo), Dani Vivian (Athletic Bilbao), Pau Cubars铆 (Barcelona), Pedro Porro (Tottenham), Alejandro Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen), Dean Huijsen (Real Madrid), Robin Le Normand (Atletico Madrid)
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