Ten players who didn’t make the latest Spain squad but would stroll into England’s starting XI.
Diego Lopez (Real Madrid)
How England would long to have Real Madrid’s number one at their disposal! Lopez is Los Blancos’ primary ‘keeper but remains behind clubmate (and Spain captain) Iker Casillas in the pecking order at international level, as well Victor Valdes (Barca) and Pepe Reina (Liverpool/Napoli). Contrastingly, England’s cover for the shaky Joe Hart consists of players from Celtic, Norwich and WBA. Earlier this season, Roy Hodgson as good as admitted the Man City goalkeeper wouldn’t be dropped, even when he was on a dreadful run of form.
David De Gea (Manchester United)
See above! Like Lopez, De Gea is a quality goalkeeper playing at a top club but he is faced with sterling competition for a place in the Spain squad. At just 23, the former Atletico Madrid stopper appears to be Iker Casillas’ natural successor but for now, he must be patient. If De Gea were English, he would almost certainly make the squad and would probably pip Man City’s Joe Hart to the number one spot. It would be close, though.
Alvaro Arbeloa (Real Madrid)
Another Real Madrid regular who can’t make the Spain squad is former Liverpool defender Arbeloa. The full-back may be 31 but he is a remarkably consistent defender and it’s hard to believe he wouldn’t to force his way past England’s speedy but defensively suspect duo Glen Johnson and Kyle Walker.
Asier Illarramendi (Real Madrid)
It’s understandable that Real Madrid’s Asier Illarramendi cannot make the Spain squad given the level of competition at holding midfield and the 23-year-old’s lack of playing time at the Santiago Bernabeu this season. But Illarra was signed in the summer after shining as the best player from Spain’s hugely talented under-21 group and clearly has a big future ahead of him. The deep-lying playmaker is exactly the type of player England is lacking but is arguably better than Jack Wilshere, who is raved about by fans and the media alike.
Juan Mata (Manchester United)
The playmaker may no longer be part of a great team but he remains a great player, one of the finest in the Premier League. It’s testament to the strength of the Spain squad that they are able to leave out Mata, who would walk into England’s first team and immediately be the star.
Jese (Real Madrid)
While Roy Hodgson has resorted to picking Jermain Defoe, a player boasting 36 minutes of Premier League in 2014 and on the verge of a move into semi-retirement with MLS outfit Toronto FC, Spain have omitted one of the brightest young talents in La Liga. Jese, 21, is widely considered to be the best player to graduate from Real Madrid’s academy in recent seasons and he’s scored five goals in his last six starts.
Isco (Real Madrid)
The summer signing is currently struggling for game-time at Real Madrid – unsurprising given he’s competing for places with Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and co. – but seven league goals and three assists in 15 starts suggests he’s done OK since arriving from Malaga. With Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard the wrong side of 30 and Ross Barkley only impressing in bursts, England would love to have a young goal-scoring midfielder of Isco’s quality.
David Villa (Atletico Madrid)
Former Barcelona star David Villa very nearly ended up in England, with reports both Tottenham and Arsenal were keen to sign Spain’s record goalscorer before his summer move to Atletico Madrid. Villa may now be 32 – and a tad past his prime – but he’s done superbly for Diego Simeone’s well-drilled team, bagging 11 La Liga goals and three assists in 24 appearances. England, meanwhile, have called up Jermain Defoe – a man who boasts one league goal this season and has just joined Toronto FC. Furthermore, Spain have just boosted their striking options by adding Brazilian-born Diego Costa, also of Atletico, to their latest squad. Oh, the injustice!
Fernando Torres (Chelsea)
Another striker omitted from Spain’s squad, who would probably make England starting XI is much-maligned Chelsea forward Fernando Torres. The former Liverpool man may not be prolific in the Premier League and has certainly not proved worth the £50m Chelsea paid for him, but Torres remains a hard-working centre forward with a touch of class, who is admired by Blues boss Jose Mourinho.
Fernando Llorente (Juventus)
After a slow start to life in Turin, Juventus’ Llorente is beginning to show his class and 12 goals in 22 starts for the Old Lady suggests he has been a great free transfer for Antonio Conte’s side. Llorente is best used as a target man, who can both finish and bring opponents into the game with his ariel ability and hold-up play. With Andy Carroll not fit enough for a call-up, England’s have called up Ricky Lambert to fulfil this role. Although the 32-year-old Liverpudlian has a decent eight goals and seven assists for Saints in the league this season, we’d rather have Llorente.
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