Euro 2024: Spain squad, starting XI and tournament odds

With the tournament kicking off in a little over a month, Ladbrokes runs you through Spain’s Euro 2024 squad, their chances of winning the tournament once again, and what we’d have their startling line-up for the tournament to look like.

England, who we also did a deep dive into, are the favourites for Euro 2024, with odds of 3/1, but Spain are still one of the front-runners at 7/1. However, they’re still behind France (7/2) and tournament hosts Germany (9/2). The bookies clearly feel a few other nations have better chances of winning the tournament, but are still of the belief that Spain could go all the way.

Spain have some immensely talented players on their books, including Rodri, who is arguably one of the best players on the planet right now. It’s not hard to see, when looking at the 26-man squad that could represent Spain in Germany next month, why they’re one of the favourites.

Ladbrokes takes you through Spain’s 26-man squad will be, as well as their starting XI.

UEFA have said that each nation will be able to take 26 players to Germany for Euro 2024. Below are the names Luis de la Fuente has picked in his provisional squad, with the Spain boss having to cut his Pau Cubarsi, Marcos Llorente and Aleix Garcia from his 29-man provisional roster.

• Goalkeepers - Unai Simon, David Raya, Kepa Arrizabalaga
• Defenders - Aymeric Laporte, Robin Le Normand, Alex Grimaldo, Dani Carvajal, Dani Vivian, Jesus Navas, Nacho, Marc Cucurella
• Midfielders - Mikel Merino, Fabian Ruiz, Alex Baena, Martin Zubimendi, Rodri, Pedri,
• Attackers - Alvaro Morata, Dani Olmo, Joselu, Lamine Yamal, Mikel Oyarzabal, Ayoze Perez, Ferran Torres, Nico Williams

Gavi misses out on a spot at Euro 2024, where he’d almost definitely have started, due to an ACL injury he sustained towards the end of last year. In his place is Sancet, the highly-rated Athletic Bilbao attacking midfielder. Cubarsi earnt a spot in the provisional squad after breaking into Barcelona’s first team this season, with the young defender starring in the Champions League for his club side, but was one of the three players axed from the main selection.

Gerard Moreno misses out, as does Barcelona’s Inigo Martinez, with Spain should picking up-and-coming players over those with more experience on the international stage.

Now that we’ve covered Spain’s 26-man squad, Ladbrokes runs you through the starting XI we’d like to see the 2008 and 2012 tournament winners line up with at this summer’s competition.

The real debatable shouts are with regards to the goalkeeper, with Simon and Raya both being talented number ones, and at right-back with Carvajal’s resurgence this season at Real Madrid, who are favourites to win the Champions League, meaning that Navas may miss out on the starting XI.

Unfortunately for Simon, we think David Raya has been too good, and too pivotal to Arsenal’s title charge, to miss out on a spot in Spain’s starting XI.

In front of him are Grimaldo, who has been revolutionary this season at left wing-back for Bayer Leverkusen, with Nacho, Laporte and Carvajal partnering him in defence.

Rodri played as a defender for Spain during the 2022 World Cup, but we think he offers too much quality going forward to not play in midfield for his country this summer, so we’d have him start in a pivot alongside either Mikel Merino or Martin Zubmendi, both of whom play their club football for Real Sociedad.

It’s a front-four for Spain, and we’re going for a relatively young attacking trip in Pedri, Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, with the ever-reliable Morata leading the line for this country once again.

As noted, Spain are fourth favourites at 7/1 to win Euro 2024, alongside Portugal. They’re priced slightly behind than Germany (9/2) and both France and England, who are at 7/2 and 3/1 respectively, in the outright tournament betting.

Spain may surprise a few fans with their showing this summer, and Rodri will be key to everything good that Spain produce, but this writer thinks they may lack the overall quality, experience and strength in depth to go all the way and win the Euros for the first time in 12 years.

After the end of the club season, Spain kick off their summer of international football with a friendly against Andorra on June 5, with their final warm-up game taking place against Northern Ireland three days later on June 8.

It's then a seven day break for Pedri, Laporte and co before their Group B first fixture against Croatia on June 15. Spain then take on reigning champions Italy on June 20, before completing their group games with what many view as their easiest fixture, a tie against Albania on June 24.

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All odds and markets are correct as of the date of publication.