Spain has named a 22-man squad for this summer’s Olympics in Tokyo with six names already in action for La Roja at Euro 2020.
Should a Spanish team that has scored five goals in consecutive matches reach the final of Euro 2020 on July 11, Pedri, Dani Olmo, Mikel Oyarzabal, Unai Simon, Pau Torres and Eric Garcia must immediately jump from one group to the next. as the Olympics begin just 11 days later.
Even if they are eliminated from Euro 2020 earlier than the final, the players who have been called up to both squads will still have valuable little rest between tournaments.
Olympic troops are limited to 18 players plus four reserve players. The reserve players still travel and train with the rest of the squad and can be called into the main group as a permanent replacement for injury or illness at any time during the tournament.
Pau Torres also goes to the Olympics in Japan / Quality Sport Images / Getty Images
However, Spain has not yet confirmed which 18 players are in the main squad and which four will be on the reserve list. They have appointed four goalkeepers, which means that two of them will be on the reserve list with only two other players.
Soccer for men at the Olympics is an age-restricted tournament for 23 years, with the exception of three designated players over the age. For these roles, Spain have chosen Real Madrid pair Marco Asensio and Dani Ceballos, as well as Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino.
Although the age limit is still in place, this year’s game is slightly different as the age limit that was originally set for 2020 has been left in place despite the Olympics being postponed a year as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
All players born on or after 1 January 1997, such as the 24-year-old Carlos Soler or the aforementioned Oyarzabal, also 24, are still qualified without being considered “over the age”.
Marco Asensio is one of Spain’s older players / Juan Manuel Serrano Arce / Getty Images
Goalkeepers: Unai Simon (Athletic Bilbao), Alvaro Fernandez (Huesca), Alejandro Dominguez (Las Palmas), Jon Moncayola (Osasuna),
Defender: Eric Garcia (Barcelona), Oscar Mingueza (Barcelona), Oscar Gil (Espanyol), Juan Miranda (Real Betis), Marc Cucurella (Getafe), Jesus Vallejo (Granada), Pau Torres (Villarreal)
Midfielder: Pedri (Barcelona), Dani Ceballos * (Real Madrid), Dani Olmo (RB Leipzig), Martin Zubimendi (Real Sociedad), Mikel Merino * (Real Sociedad), Carlos Soler (Valencia)
Forward: Javi Puado (Espanyol), Marco Asensio * (Real Madrid), Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Bryan Gil (Sevilla)
* denotes designated “over-age” player
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