They may have had a disappointing 2018 World Cup campaign in Russia this summer, but there is no denying the underlying talent within the Spanish set-up.
In fact, Spain has shown over the majority of the last decade how brutally dominating they really are on the football pitch, with their strength in depth met with envious eyes from rival nations who would do anything for the layers of talent at the countries disposal.
Everyone remembers Xavi, Andreas Iniesta and so on, but there are many players who have pulled on the famous red strip of Espana that may have slipped your memory.
Here are 15 footballers you may have forgotten played for Spain at least once throughout their careers. Not all are flops, some are merely casualties of the greatest Spanish generation there has ever been.
1. Dani Guiza
Appearances for Spain: 21
The well-travelled striker didn’t make his debut for Spain until the age of 27 back in 2007. After being crowned La Liga’s top-scorer for Malaga that year, Guiza was included in the Spain Euro 2008 squad.
His debut in the tournament saw Guiza make a dramatic impact. He found the last-minute goal against Greece in Spain’s final group match, before scoring again in the 3-0 semi-final win over Russia. In the showpiece decider against Germany, he replaced Fernando Torres for the final 15 minutes.
Guiza held a decent goalscoring record for Spain (six goals in 21 matches) but couldn’t break through the extremely talented Spanish front-line to etch himself in the memories of most football fans.
2. Michu
Appearances for Spain: 1
A Premier League household name on account of his one brilliant year in Wales, former Swansea City forward Michu looked destined to establish himself among the very best of Spain’s elite.
After only playing in one match for his country, Michu’s rapid decline in football is well-documented, and his story still remains one of ‘what could have been’. His sole appearance for La Roja came in a 2014 World Cup qualifier against Belarus, which Spain won 2-1.
3. Pablo Hernandez
Appearances for Spain: 4
Pablo Hernandez is another former Swan, but the Leeds United playmaker actually made all of his international appearances prior to his move to the Liberty Stadium.
He did manage to score a goal in those four games – in a 5-1 friendly mauling of Austria – but clearly failed to repeatedly produce performances that would see him bypass one of the best midfield generations a country has ever produced.
4. Jonathan Viera
Appearances for Spain: 1
Another one-cap star who made his debut in a 1-0 victory against Israel last year, Jonathan Viera may have to pull something spectacular out of the bag to ensure that he gets to play for his country again.
However, considering his recent €11m move from Las Palmas to Chinese outfit Beijing Guoan, it might be that Viera has settled for financial rewards over international acclaim.
5. Alberto Moreno
Appearances for Spain: 4
Alberto Moreno, the Liverpool left-back, is well known throughout the Premier League but perhaps not instantly recognisable as a Spanish international.
With four caps under his belt – his first back in 2013 – Moreno has fallen down the pecking order at the Anfield club behind Scottish marvel Andrew Robertson, meaning his chances of increasing his cap tally have dropped substantially.
6. Albert Luque
Appearances for Spain: 17
One for the Newcastle United fans here. Albert Luque spent two seasons in England but had already made his Spain debut at the 2002 World Cup.
Seventeen caps is by no means not a bad showing for a footballer’s international career, but the former Mallorca and Deportivo de La Coruna striker only scored two goals in a three-year period for his country. His domestic goal record also dropped below the expected standard.
7. Albert Riera
Appearances for Spain: 16
Another former Liverpool player, Albert Riera, who played for the Reds between 2008 – 2010, was a left-sided player who made his debut for Spain in a Euro 2008 qualifier against Denmark, scoring from outside the box in a 3–1 victory.
Despite his goal, Riera didn’t make the Euro 2008-winning squad and never appeared at either the Euros or World Cup for Spain. He did score four goals though, so… good for him.
8. Nolito
Appearances for Spain: 16
Never called up to any Spanish youth teams, Nolito made his full debut in 2014 after some impressive performances for Celta Vigo.
Nolito’s talismanic performances earned him a move to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in 2016. There were initial signs of promise, but the forward struggled to settle in England, mainly because of the weather. “My daughter’s face has changed colour. It looks like she’s been living in a cave,” Nolito told Spanish radio in 2017.
He moved back to Spain with Sevilla six months later in the summer of 2017, which also marks the apparent end of his international career. Though Nolito has not formally retired, his last cap came in November in a 2-2 draw against England.
9. Ivan Campo
Appearances for Spain: 4
The man with a haircut Wayne Rooney would kill for, Ivan Campo is not the only player to swap Real Madrid for the Galacticos of Bolton Wanderers.
Despite his quality, the defensive midfielder only made four appearances for his country and could perhaps consider himself slightly unlucky not to acquire more caps to his name.
10. Diego Tristan
Appearances for Spain: 15
A cult name from the Deportivo side that won the Copa del Rey in 2002, Diego Tristan will be remembered for his fantastic goal-scoring ability up until around 2006, the point at which he became a journeyman whose path involved a trial at West Ham.
Tristan played just 15 games for Spain across a two-year period from 2001-03, scoring four goals. It is perhaps a surprise he wasn’t given more opportunities to show what he could evidently do – especially between 2000 and 2006 – on the international stage.
11. Ruben de la Red
Appearances for Spain: 3
Former Real Madrid midfielder Ruben de La Red made just three showings for Spain in a player career that was cut short prematurely due to a serious heart ailment. Aged just 25, De la Red hung up his boots two years after returning to Los Blancos from Getafe.
His Spain career was not without highlights, however. He was part of the winning Euro 2008 squad, scoring the equaliser against Greece in the group stages.
12. Borja Valero
Appearances for Spain: 1
Real Madrid, West Brom and Inter Milan. These three clubs do not commonly feature in the same footballer’s career path (no offence Baggies), but Borja Valero covered has covered all bases in his career, including the Spanish national team.
The metronomic midfielder showcased his talents just once for Spain in 2011 but never got himself back in the side, despite some impressive displays for Fiorentina between 2012 and 17.
13. Munir El Haddadi
Appearances for Spain: 1
At the age of 23, Munir has plenty of time to build upon his single cap for Spain. The Barcelona playmaker is undoubtedly talented but needs to be playing more regularly and consistently to get back in the frame.
Perhaps having grown impatient for opportunities, Munir attempted to switch allegiances from Spain to Morocco in spring of 2018. However, the move was denied by Fifa.
14. Asier Del Horno
Appearances for Spain: 10
The former Chelsea man – who has a Premier League title under his belt, don’t you forget – went on to get double digits in terms of Spain appearances (just).
You may remember Asier de Horno scoring the winner for La Roja against England in a friendly match in 2004. That was about as good as it got.
15. Javi Garcia
Appearances for Spain: 2
Despite playing for Real Madrid, Benfica, Manchester City and Zenit St Petersburg, Javi Garcia only managed to scrape two appearances for Spain in 2012, largely down to the competition in the middle of the park.
He currently plays for La Liga side Real Betis, but Garcia will forever be remembered as the true reason City won the Premier League title back in 2014. Right?
The post The 15 players you totally forgot played for Spain appeared first on Squawka News.
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