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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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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CReal Madrid37297187266194
2Barcelona37257577433482
3GironaGirona37246778463278
4Atletico MadridAtletico372341068432573
5Athletic Bilbao371811860372365
6Real Sociedad371612951371460
7Real BetisBetis37141494845356
8Villarreal371410136464052
9Valencia37139153843-548
10AlavesAlaves37129163545-1045
11Osasuna37128174455-1144
12Getafe371013144152-1143
13Sevilla371011164752-541
14Celta Vigo371010174455-1140
15Las PalmasLas Palmas37109183246-1439
16Rayo Vallecano37814152947-1838
17Mallorca37716143143-1237
18CadizCadiz37615162549-2433
RGranada3749243872-3421
RAlmeria37212233774-3718


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