Spain has revised its initial World Cup plans for Uzbekistan. Coach Fede Vidal has announced that Francisco Paniagua and Javi Mínguez will join the national team’s training sessions starting Monday, August 5. The inclusion of Servigroup Peñíscola’s left winger and Movistar Inter’s new signing is unexpected since Vidal previously specified on July 1 that only 15 players would be included. Unlike other countries that initially called up larger squads, Vidal stated: “We have had enough time to evaluate who should be on the list and didn’t intend for the preparation to be overly demanding.” He emphasized that the goal is to win, not just participate in the World Cup. The total squad now comprises 17 players.
Following the completion of the first phase of World Cup preparation on August 1, after a week of work and 11 training sessions focused heavily on physical conditioning, the players were given a three-day rest. Upon their return, they will be joined by the two new teammates at the Ciudad del Fútbol in Las Rozas. Who are arriving without prior physical preparation after their holidays. It has been confirmed that there are no injuries in the squad. The unexpected inclusion of Paniagua and Mínguez suggests the need for well-prepared replacements.
Second Phase
In the second phase, the team will travel to Morocco on August 10. To play against the African team on the 12th and 14th in the first two of seven friendlies. Daniel Gabriel had to withdraw from the initial list due to personal reasons. Jesus Gordillo has taken his place, replacing a left-footed pivot with a right-footed scorer. Vidal still plans to drop Palma Futsal’s player from the final 14-player list. Which must be submitted to FIFA one day before their debut against Kazakhstan on September 15 (2:30 p.m.) in Group D. The inclusion of Paniagua and Mínguez opens up new possibilities, and no player’s place is guaranteed, with last-minute changes possible.
In the third phase, Spain will face Hungary, France, and Costa Rica, playing Hungary in Ferrol on August 22 at 8:30 p.m., and the other two matches at the Ciudad del Fútbol de Las Rozas on August 26 and 28. The friendlies will conclude in Tajikistan against the host team and the Netherlands, led by Spaniard Miguel Andrés.