Chalk it up to a saturated backfield or being a bit too young, but Arsenal star defender Hector Bellerin has been snubbed repeatedly from the Spanish national team since his breakout debut with the Gunners in 2014. However, after a superb 2015-16 campaign that ended in PFA Team of the Year recognition, Spain manager Vincente del Bosque has finally relented and given the talented starlet a shot at cracking the lineup.
Bellerin was given the start today for Spain’s friendly against Bosnia & Hergezovina, filling one of the six vacant spots left by Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid players who couldn’t get called up for the Sunday match, and making his first appearance for the two-time defending Euro champions.
The 21-year-old Arsenal right back made 44 starts for the club this past year, including 36 in the Premier League. Towards the end of the season he developed an incredible knack for disguising himself as an attacking midfielder, scoring a goal and four assist in the final 10 matches and earning Man of the Match honours for his two-assist effort in a 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur.
Perhaps the biggest takeaway from his much-deserved cap for Spain is the simple question: What took Vincente del Bosque so long?
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