MX23RW : Wednesday, December 14 02:26:19| >> :120:8129:8129:

Barcelona's Alejandro Balde replaces Jose Gaya in Spain World Cup Squad

Barcelona's Alejandro Balde replaces Jose Gaya in Spain World Cup Squad
© Reuters
Barcelona's Alejandro Balde replaces the injured Valencia defender Jose Gaya in Spain's World Cup squad.

Barcelona's Alejandro Balde has replaced Valencia's Jose Gaya in Spain's World Cup squad.

Gaya sprained his ankle in training on Wednesday and will be sidelined for around 10 days, meaning he would have missed the group stage.

According to ESPN, Luis Enrique had considered keeping Gaya in Qatar but on Friday decided to call up Balde, ahead of their opening game against Costa Rica on November 23.

Despite being a regular in Spain's youth teams, this is Balde's first senior call-up and he will challenge his club teammate Jordi Alba for the starting role at left-back.

The 19-year-old beat out another Barca teammate to make the squad in Marcos Alonso, who has played six times for Spain under Enrique, but Balde has emerged as a consistent figure in La Liga this season, starting 12 out of the 14 games under Xavi this year.

Spain get underway against Costa Rica on November 23 in Group E, before then facing Germany and Japan.

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Jordi Alba in action for Barcelona in December 2021
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Wednesday, December 14
 
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Sunday, December 18
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona1412113352837
2Real Madrid14112133141935
3Real Sociedad148241917226
4Real BetisBetis147341712524
5Atletico MadridAtletico147342114724
6Athletic Bilbao1473424141024
7Osasuna147251614223
8Rayo Vallecano146442016422
9Villarreal146351510521
10Mallorca145451313019
11Valencia145452215719
12Real ValladolidValladolid145271321-817
13Almeria145181622-616
14GironaGirona144462022-216
15Getafe143561220-814
16Celta Vigo143381426-1212
17Espanyol142661622-612
18CadizCadiz14257926-1711
19Sevilla142571322-911
20ElcheElche1404101031-214

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