Pau Cubarsi is set for the Spanish first team call-up.
Pau Cubarsí could be one of the big surprises on Luis de la Fuente’s list for the March friendlies against Colombia and Brazil. According to Jordi Gil of SPORT, the center-back is included in the coach’s preliminary list, and everything is open regarding the possibility of being called up. Cubarsí has always been held up as an example by the Federation to follow. His behavior, tactical discipline, and quality have led the federative base football authorities to mention the Catalan as a role model.
In the U-17 World Cup, he was indisputable under José Lana, and his next step was supposed to be the U-21s, although the way he has accelerated his consolidation in Barcelona’s starting eleven could advance deadlines for the Federation.
Cubarsí is one of the jewels of Spanish football and is part of the World 2030 project, which will have Spain as one of the host countries. In six years, if he continues on the same path, he could already be a cornerstone of the senior team. The final squad will be announced on March 15 for the matches at the Olympic Stadium in London against Colombia on March 22 and against Brazil at the Bernabéu on March 26.
This call-up will be the first where De la Fuente can try things without worrying about the result, as until now he had only directed official matches for the qualification for Euro 2024 and led Spain to win their fifth title in history with the UEFA Nations League. The option of Cubarsí may gain more momentum in this sense, as new faces are hinted in the call-up, such as the central defender himself or Real Madrid’s Brahim Díaz.
If not called up for the senior team, Cubarsí would be part of Santi Denia’s U-21s with the Olympics as the main objective of the year. Fermín is a regular, and Cubarsí could join for the Olympic event in a squad that is limited to 18 players. On the other hand, the national team director, Albert Luque, visited the Ciutat Esportiva on Wednesday to inquire about the three injured players: Gavi, Pedri, and Balde. All of them are meeting the deadlines, as confirmed by Luque himself upon leaving the facility, so Pedri will arrive in time to play the final stretch of the season with FC Barcelona and participate in Euro 2024.
