MADRID: Spain football captain Sergio Ramos has been left out of the squad for Euro 2020 which will take place in June and July after being postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic last year.
Aymeric Laporte has been included in a 24-man squad that includes no Real Madrid players, after FIFA approved his switch from France to Spain earlier this month. The Manchester City defender was born in France and has represented that country at various age-group levels but is entitled to Spanish citizenship.
“I’ve not included Ramos because he’s not been able to play much this season,” head coach Luis Enrique said, adding, “Especially since January he’s not been fit enough, and at times not even training with the group at his club.
“It wasn’t easy, but I called him last night and we had a difficult and tough conversation. I feel bad as he’s a player who has always been at the top level and has a future with the national team. It’s a decision that I’ve taken for the good of the national team and the group as a whole,” he added.
The Real Madrid center-back, in a tweet, said, “I’ve fought and worked with my body and soul to be 100 percent fit for Real Madrid and the national team but sometimes things don’t work out. It hurts me not to be able to help my teammates and not defend Spain.”
I have fought and worked every day, in body and soul, to be able to reach 100% for Real Madrid and the national team but things don’t always work out the way we’d like.
— Sergio Ramos (@SergioRamos) May 24, 2021
Adama Traoré and Eric García, who like Laporte has not been the first choice for City this season, have been selected. There was also a surprise recall for Chelsea’s César Azpilicueta, who won the last of his 25 caps in 2018.
Ramos won the last of his 180 caps in March this year but has endured an injury-plagued season that has limited him to just 15 Spanish league appearances and only five games in all competitions in 2021 – the last of which came in the club’s 2-0 Champions League semi-final second-leg defeat by Chelsea on May 5.
Spain have been drawn alongside Sweden, Poland and Slovakia in Group E and are aiming to improve upon the last-16 exits at Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup.
