November 12
Luis de la Fuente, head coach of the Spanish national team, has announced that three players will be excluded from the squad for this Thursday evening’s UEFA Nations League match against the Czech Republic.
The three players—Nico Williams, Aymeric Laporte, and goalkeeper Álvaro Valles—will not feature in the upcoming encounter in Prague.
The decision to omit these players comes as Spain looks to maintain its positive momentum in the tournament. The coaching staff opted not to include them, while goalkeeper Álvaro Valles had already missed yesterday’s group training session due to the flu.
Both Williams and Laporte possess significant international experience—with Laporte having been part of the Spanish squad that won the 2026 World Cup—whereas Valles was ruled out due to his recent illness.
Meanwhile, the announcement of the players' squad numbers drew particular attention, with much speculation surrounding who would take the number 10 jersey in the absence of Barcelona star Dani Olmo, who typically wears that number for the national team.
Ultimately, De la Fuente decided to award the iconic number to Liverpool player Víctor Muñoz. This gesture serves as a morale boost for the player as he seeks to establish his place within the national team setup. As for Spain’s campaign in the UEFA Nations League, De la Fuente’s side enters the match against the Czech Republic with a significant advantage. Having secured a perfect record—winning all four of their opening matches to collect 12 points—they sit at the top of the group and have already guaranteed their spot in the quarter-finals with two games to spare.
The Spanish team has delivered strong performances throughout the tournament, securing victories over England, Croatia, and the Czech Republic, before defeating Croatia once again in the fourth round. These results underscore their competitive strength and their status as one of Europe’s elite teams, a testament to the cohesion within the squad and the experience gained under De la Fuente’s leadership.
Despite having already qualified, the match against the Czech Republic remains important for Spain. The team aims to maintain its position at the top of the group and conclude the league phase on a high note, ahead of their final match against England this coming Sunday—a stern test before the knockout stages begin.
De la Fuente hopes his players will maintain their high level of performance despite several absences, relying on the depth of his squad; Spain possesses a talented group of players capable of stepping in for those who are unavailable. Meanwhile, Víctor Muñoz will look to seize the opportunity of wearing the number 10 jersey to showcase his abilities and prove that he deserves a more prominent role within the world-champion side.
