Spain Euro 2024 squad: Luis de la Fuente's full team ahead of the tournament (2024)

The Spain Euro 2024 squad will kick off their tournament against Croatia on Saturday.

We don't get much right at FFT - putting on our trousers the correct way round represents a proud daily achievement - so please forgive us a moment's self-congratulation.

"Spain will reach the last 16 full of hope," we penned in our 2022 World Cup preview, "at which point Alvaro Morata fluffs his lines and inevitable shootout pain ensues." Now, far be it from us to blow our own trumpet, but honk honk, eh? With apologies to Morata, who was too anonymous to be of note, Spain's last-16 loss to Morocco from the spot following an insipid stalemate really was that predictable. It just had to be penalties. Only one country (sorry, Gareth) has been knocked out of more major tournament finals on shootouts than the Iberians, currently on six, and doing it three times in succession has entrenched their mental block further.

Yet a change in psyche is underway. New coach Luis de la Fuente trusts the starlets he led as Under-21s gaffer and a mere seven of Luis Enrique's 2022 World Cup squad were summoned for March's friendlies against Colombia and Brazil. Partly that's down to injury - left-back Alejandro Balde, midfield tyro Gavi and up-and-coming winger Yeremy Pino all had season-ending complaints, with Pedri, Ferran Torres and Marco Asensio only recently fit - but De la Fuente has a different groove. Morata is captain and struck four goals in qualifying, including the opener in a vital 2-0 win over Scotland. Matching his tally was Joselu, whose name sends shivers down the spines of Stoke and Newcastle supporters but is now seen regularly for Real Madrid and Spain, aged 34 and with two goals on his international debut last year.

Dani Olmo, Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal offer superb one-on-one ability; the latter so tormented Brazil in March that he will probably start. Rodri is the best defensive midfielder in the world, and could prove the difference for them at Euro 2024.

There are two ways to look at the group-of-death draw. It doesn't get much tougher than facing defending champions Italy, natural dark horses Croatia and qualifying table-toppers Albania. However, Spain beat Croatia at Euro 2020 and in the 2023 Nations League Final, while the Azzurri - their conquerors three years ago for a sixth time at a major competition - can't crop up again until the semi-finals.

That most recent victory over Croatia was a shootout triumph to lift a trophy, no matter how minor. Surely that must have exorcised some penalty demons?

FourFourTwo will bring you all the latest on the Spain Euro 2024 squad when we have it, as well as details on every other side at the tournament, how to watch each game, and who is set to plunder the most goals.

VIDEO: Euro 2024 - All You Need To Know

Spain Euro 2024 squad

Spain Euro 2024 squad: The final 26-man team

• GK: Alex Remiro (Real Sociedad)
• GK: David Raya (Arsenal)
• GK: Unai Simon (Athletic Bilbao)
• DF: Alex Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen)
• DF: Aymeric Laporte (Al Nassr)
• DF: Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid)
• DF: Daniel Vivian (Athletic Bilbao)
• DF: Jesus Navas (Sevilla)
• DF: Marc Cucurella (Chelsea)
• DF: Nacho (Real Madrid)
• DF: Robin Le Normand (Real Sociedad)
• MF: Alex Baena (Villarreal)
• MF: Fabian Ruiz (France Paris Saint-Germain)
• MF: Fermin Lopez (Barcelona)
• MF: Martin Zubimendi (Real Sociedad)
• MF: Mikel Merino (Real Sociedad)
• MF: Pedri (Barcelona)
• MF: Rodri (Manchester City)
• FW: Alvaro Morata (Atletico Madrid)
• FW: Ayoze Perez (Real Betis)
• FW: Dani Olmo (RB Leipzig)
• FW: Ferran Torres (Barcelona)
• FW: Joselu (Real Madrid)
• FW: Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
• FW: Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad)
• FW: Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao)

Spain Euro 2024 predicted XI and formation

Qualifying and recent friendly games offers a great look at how Spain will line-up this summer, with a 4-2-3-1 formation preferred by Luis de la Fuente. Rodri and Pedri keep things ticking in midfield, Morata leads the line up front and the trio in behind him can prove devastating against any defence.

Spain Euro 2024 squad numbers

Spain fixtures and results

June 5: Spain 5-0Andorra, Nuevo Vivero, Badajoz, Spain
June 8: Spain5-1Northern Ireland, Estadi Mallorca Son Moix, Palma de Mallorca, Spain

June 15: Spain vCroatia, Olympiastadion, Berlin, Germany
June 20: Spain vItaly, Arena AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
June 24: Albania vSpain, Merkur Spiel-Arena, Düsseldorf, Germany

Spain manager: Luis de la Fuente

Luis de la Fuente has been part of the Spanish FA fabric for a decade as a Euros-winning manager of the Under-19s and then the U21s.As senior coach, he has mined both cohorts for players.

Since replacing Luis Enrique in 2022, the ex-Athletic Bilbao left-back has gone Basque to basics to make La Roja more direct, but possession is still paramount.

Spain's star player

Rodri

Rodri hadn't finished a competitive fixture on the losing side for club nor country in more than a year before the FA Cup final against Manchester United - a run that stretched back 60-plus matches to Spain's 2023 defeat to Scotland at Hampden Park.

The 27-year-old Manchester City midfielder is the fulcrum around which the myriad creative waifs sprinkle their magic.

Lesson from qualifying

Spain's solitary loss in their qualifying campaign, a 2-0 reverse at Hampden Park in March 2023, demands some self-reflection. Rodri summed up his side's pearl-clutching petulance when describing the Tartan Army's tactic of time-wasting by exaggerating injury as "rubbish" and "not football". Pot, meet kettle, amigos.

Spain would also do well to realise that a swift dagger to the heart is no less effective a death than one by a thousand passes - it's just less aesthetically pleasing. Finish teams off when you have the chance.

Strengths

Astonishing midfield depth. Few teams could replace the sidelined Gavi with such ease, but they do have Pedri: nine injuries in less than three years and still the 21-year-old oozes quality.

Weaknesses

Big-tournament experience. Morata is skipper as the only squad member with 55 or more caps and 38-year-old Jesus Navas is the sole survivor from Spain's 2008-12 trophy-winning vintage. Unai Simon, De la Fuente's goalkeeper, has the odd shaky moment. France-born go-to centre-back Robin Le Normand is new on the scene and partner Aymeric Laporte is enjoying semi-retirement at Al Nassr.

Most likely to...

Wideman Yamal, just 16 when the tournament commences, wears braces, lives at La Masia and, like his club-mate, can't drink, drive, vote or smoke.

Spain's youngest ever player, who scored on his debut, has the impudent left-footed brilliance of a Barça-reared diminutive Argentine you may have heard of. Against Brazil, Yamal shone to such an extent that he joined Diego Maradona, Ronaldinho and Andres Iniesta as Cules to receive a standing ovation from the Bernabeu.

Least likely to...

Give the ball away. Spain's possession obsession remains under De la Fuente, although the era of picking a vertically challenged midfielder as a false nine is over. He may even have discarded the 4-3-3 system to fit in another attacker.

What they hope will happen

A repeat of the Nations League.

What will happen

A repeat of the World Cup. Yes, again.