David Raya toned down the debate over the starting goalkeeper for Spain at the , praising teammate Unai Sim贸n on Saturday and saying La Roja is in good hands with him.
Spain begins its quest for a second World Cup title on Monday against Cape Verde in Group H in Atlanta.
Sim贸n has been the regular starter under coach Luis de la Fuente, but talk about a possible change in goal increased following stellar seasons by the squad’s other goalkeepers: Raya, who helped Arsenal win the Premier League and reach the Champions League final, and Joan Garc铆a, who helped Barcelona win the Spanish league while being named the competition’s best goalkeeper.
鈥淪pain is in very good hands no matter who gets to play,鈥� Raya said Saturday. 鈥淚 think Unai Sim贸n, since his debut, has raised the level of the goalkeeping position. We won the Nations League and the European Championship with him. And I think he鈥檚 a great goalkeeper who has given us these titles as the starter.鈥�
De la Fuente did not name his starting goalkeeper in advance, adding fuel to the debate in Spain. He used all three of them in the team鈥檚 warmups ahead of the World Cup, though Sim贸n got the nod to start in the final preparation match.
鈥淚t’s normal (to have a debate),鈥� Raya said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 always been a lot of competition among the goalkeepers that we’ve had. It鈥檚 about camaraderie, striving to be better, to make the coach’s job difficult. We鈥檙e all here to help the team. Whoever gets to play will do their best.鈥�
Spain on Saturday had its last practice session at its camp in Tennessee before traveling to Atlanta for its opener.
Spain will have a for the match after forwards V铆ctor Mu帽oz, Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams returned to training this week after recovering from injuries.
Spain’s second match will be against Saudi Arabia on June 21, also in Atlanta. The team鈥檚 final group game will be against Uruguay on June 26 in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Spain rebounded from a round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup by in Germany. La Roja also , and was in the 2025 Nations League.
Spain hasn鈥檛 gone further than the last 16 in the World Cup since its lone title in 2010.
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