Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has defended his decision to include Jesus Navas ahead of the Tottenham defender Pedro Porro for his part Euro 2024 campaign for this summer.
De la Fuente announced his provisional 29-man squad on Monday and will drop three players from the list after Spain's friendlies against Andorra and Northern Ireland in June.
Porro has been one of Spurs' standout stars at right-back this season with three goals and seven assists in the Premier League.
But it was not enough for the Spurs defender to make Spain's provisional squad ahead of Real Madrid's Dani Carvajal and 38-year-old Navas, who plays for Sevilla in La Liga.
Asked about his decision to include Navas in his squad, De la Fuente said at his press conference: 'Jesus Navas can contribute a lot to the team.
“He is one of the captains, he is an example, he is part of the history of our team. He has won a World Cup, a European Championship and a Nations League. He is an example every day, he passes it on to all of us. He can do a lot for us in the dressing room, in addition to all the football talent he has.
SPAIN PRELIMINARY SELECTION FOR EURO 2024
Goalkeepers: Unai Simon (Athletics Bilbao), David Raya (Arsenal), Alex Remiro (Real Sociedad)
Defenders: Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid), Jesus Navas (Sevilla), Aymeric Laporte (Al Nassr), Robin Le Normand (Real Sociedad), Nacho (Real Madrid), Dani Vivian (Athletic Bilbao), Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona), Alejandro Grimaldo ( Leverkusen), Marc Cucurella (Chelsea)
Midfielders: Rodri (Manchester City), Martin Zubimendi (Real Sociedad), Mikel Merino (Real Sociedad), Fabian Ruiz (PSG), Pedri (Barcelona), Marcos Llorente (Atlético), Aleix Garcia (Girona), Alex Baena (Villarreal), Fermin López (Barcelona)
Forward: Ferran Torres (Barcelona), Dani Olmo (Leipzig), Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Alvaro Morata (Atletico), Joselu (Real Madrid), Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), Ayoze Perez (Real Betis)
“He's been through tough times, like all his teammates, and he's always been up to the task. Jesus Navas never fails. I also take this opportunity to say it. There are footballers who were born to compete for their club, but especially for the national team. He is one of those who transforms when he puts on the national team shirt.
'It seems he was born to be an international footballer. We celebrate him.
“We're very happy to have him here with us and have the excitement he has after winning everything he's won. He still thinks he can do better.'
De la Fuente has also come under fire for choosing to select Chelsea left-back Marc Cucurella ahead of Miguel Gutierrez, who has been one of Girona's impressive players in La Liga this season.
“There are people who we think are better at our approach,” De la Fuente said.
'We believe that Cucurella and [Alejandro] Grimaldo has done the job very well and deserved it.
'Within the scenarios we propose, they are the best for us. Right now they are the 29 best players to defend our idea.”
Spain's Euro 2024 campaign begins with a tough match against Croatia on June 15.
In Group B they also play against Italy and Albania.
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