Barcelona forward Ansu Fati returned to the Spain squad on Friday for the first time in over a year as the 2010 winners face two crucial World Cup qualifiers.
Spain will play Greece and Sweden over the upcoming international break and 19-year-old Fati’s comeback will be a significant boost to the team.
They sit second in Group B, two points behind Sweden and four ahead of Greece.
Fati has not played for Spain since their Nations League defeat by Ukraine in October 2020 after he sustained a knee injury that kept him out for 10 months.
He returned for Barcelona at the end of September and has found form quickly, scoring three goals in his seven appearances since.
He scored the winner in Barca’s crucial 1-0 victory over Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Luis Enrique has also recalled Real Madrid right-back Dani Carvajal, along with Leeds striker Rodrigo Moreno and AC Milan midfielder Brahim Diaz.
Villarreal forward Gerard Moreno and Real Sociedad captain Mikel Oyarzabal and both out injured.
Spain face Greece in Athens on Thursday before playing at home to Sweden in Seville three days later.
Luis Enrique’s team need to finish top of the group to secure automatic qualification for the World Cup next year while coming second would send them into the play-offs, which take place in March.
World Cup News
-
FIFA World Cup
/ 1 week agoUruguay end winless run with dramatic late win over Colombia
Manuel Ugarte grabbed a dramatic last-gasp winner as Uruguay ended a five-match winless streak...
By AFP -
FIFA World Cup
/ 1 week agoArgentina fall in Paraguay, Brazil held in Venezuela
World champions Argentina suffered a 2-1 defeat to Paraguay while rivals Brazil were held...
By AFP -
FIFA World Cup
/ 1 month agoLenovo become FIFA’s World Cup ‘technology partner’
Chinese technology company Lenovo have signed a sponsorship deal with FIFA that covers the...
By AFP -
FIFA World Cup
/ 3 months agoVinicius says Spain should lose 2030 World Cup unless racism declines
Brazilian striker Vinicius Junior has called for Spain to be stripped of its 2030...
By AFP