How Spain will line up at Euro 2024

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 15 Jun 2024 18:56 BST
• 4 min read

Spain’s golden generation has officially been and gone, but La Raja remain one of the favourites to win the 2024 European Championship.

Luis de la Fuente’s side won seven of their eight matches in qualifying and head into the tournament with an excitingly youthful squad.

After exiting the 2022 World Cup at the last-16 stage following a penalty shootout defeat to Morocco, Spain are a good bet for success at Euro 2024, especially considering their Nations League triumph in 2023.

READ MORE: Euro 2024 Draw - Groups, fixtures, knockouts, favourites

Although they are no longer blessed with the likes of Xavi or Andres Iniesta, there are still a host of talented players in Spain’s squad and they are expected to go deep into the knockout stages.

Below, FootballTransfers predicts Spain’s first-choice starting XI at Euro 2024.

READ MORE: Euro 2024 top scorers

How Spain will line up at Euro 2024

David Raya has enjoyed a brilliant season at Arsenal, but Unai Simon is Spain’s number one and the Athletic Club star will start Euro 2024 as De la Fuente’s preferred choice.

There are a plethora of full-back options available for Spain and Dani Carvajal faces a battle with Sevilla's Jesus Navas to start on the right. However, the Real Madrid man is likely to start.

At left-back, Alejandro Grimaldo was expected to be rewarded for his stellar campaign at Bayer Leverkusen, but Marc Cucurella eventually made the position his own.

Barcelona starlet Pau Cubarsi didn't make the final squad, meaning De la Fuente is more than likely set to persist with the experienced pairing of Robin Le Normand and Aymeric Laporte.

Manchester City’s Rodri will be the anchor in the middle of the park, however the rest of Spain’s midfield is slightly difficult to predict.

In qualifying, Rodri was typically accompanied by Gavi and either Mikel Merino or Fabian Ruiz. However, Gavi will miss Euro 2024 due to an ACL injury and this could see De la Fuente switch to a 4-2-3-1 system in order for Dani Olmo to play as an attacking midfielder.

However, Gavi’s Barcelona team-mate Pedri could well come straight into the starting XI as his replacement in order to maintain a 4-3-3 system. This is arguably the more likely scenario.

As a result, Olmo may be shifted to the left flank, although he will face significant competition from Athletic Club’s Nico Williams.

Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal will start on the right, while Atletico Madrid’s Alvaro Morata will lead the line.

Spain’s starting XI at Euro 2024

GK: Unai Simon

RB: Dani Carvajal

CB: Robin Le Normand

CB: Aymeric Laporte

LB:Marc Cucurella

CDM: Rodri

CM: Pedri

CM: Fabian Ruiz

RW: Lamine Yamal

LW: Nico Williams

ST: Alvaro Morata

Spain's Euro 2024 squad

Goalkeepers: Unai Simon (Athletic Club), 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 Club), Alejandro Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen), Marc Cucurella (Chelsea).

Midfielders: Rodri (Man City), Martin Zubimendi (Real Sociedad), Fabian Ruiz (PSG), Mikel Merino (Real Sociedad), Pedri (Barcelona), Alex Baena (Villarreal), Fermin Lopez (Barcelona).

Forwards: Alvaro Morata (Atletico Madrid), Joselu (Real Madrid), Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Dani Olmo (RB Leipzig), Ferran Torres (Barcelona), Nico Williams (Athletic Club), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), Ayoze Perez (Real Betis).