Mikel Oyarzabal to lead Spain’s line after missing Qatar with ACL injury | OneFootball

Mikel Oyarzabal will debut at the World Cup at 29, four years after an ACL in his left knee cost him Qatar. He arrives as Spain’s centre forward after 15 Liga goals and 18 across league and cup equalled his best season.

According to Diario Vasco, he has become the starter without debate, strengthened by his winner in the most recent European Championship final. Luis de la Fuente knows him from under-19, under-21 and Olympic sides, a decade after Vicente del Bosque first drafted him before Euro 2016.

Luis Enrique first used him centrally against Switzerland in October 2020 in the Nations League, then viewed as a false nine. Imanol made him a regular up front later, once Isak and Sorloth had departed.

His reading of the game drew him off the flank and coaches have kept him close to the ball.

Team-mates and coaches praise his intelligence and finishing, and he is now one of Spain’s captains alongside Rodri and Unai Simón. He missed the Iraq friendly for a planned rest with other senior players.

Ferran Torres offers similar movement with more runs into space, while Borja Iglesias would add physicality and penalty-area presence for a more direct approach. Oyarzabal has not looked back since his 2022 knee injury, improving year on year.

He will be the squad’s only Real Sociedad player, joined by fellow Gipuzkoan Zubimendi, a Premier League winner and Champions League runner-up with Arsenal, though Rodri has reclaimed the starting role in midfield.

The World Cup opens on Thursday with Mexico against South Africa. Spain meet Cabo Verde on Monday, after a final friendly against Peru tonight at four, then Saudi Arabia and Uruguay in the group phase. All eyes are on 19 July.

Source: Diario Vasco