Spain Goalkeepers At 2022 World Cup: Why is De Gea & Chelsea’s Kepa Not Playing?

Spain Goalkeepers At 2022 World Cup: Why is De Gea & Chelsea’s Kepa Not Playing? 

After two consecutive poor World Cup campaigns, Spain is determined to flourish in Qatar in 2022.

Manager Luis Enrique has no shortage of talent to choose from, and his preliminary team lineup sparked interest when it was revealed.

On November 11, he revealed his final 26-man team, which included Manchester United’s David de Gea and Chelsea’s Kepa Arrizabalaga.

So, who will start for Spain in the 2022 World Cup, and why is De Gea out of the picture? The Sporting News looks at the Manchester United goalkeeper’s story.

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Spain goalkeepers At 2022 World Cup

Enrique appears to have included five goalkeepers in his preliminary team for Qatar, with only two making the final cut.

Three of them play in the Premier League, while the other two are in La Liga.

All five are still relatively inexperienced at the national team level, with three goalkeepers having only two caps between them.

When the final 26-man roster was announced, it was confirmed that Unai Simon, David Raya, and Robert Sanchez would be the three heading to Qatar.

 

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Why Is De Gea Not Playing For Spain?

De Gea, the Manchester United goalkeeper, is clearly absent from Spain’s list of goalkeepers for the 2022 World Cup.

While the 31-year-old remains a regular with the Red Devils, he hasn’t played for Spain since a 1-0 defeat to Ukraine on October 13, 2020.

De Gea began for Spain at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, but struggled, allowing six goals on seven shots on goal as his team was eliminated in the round of 16.

Enrique picked De Gea to his Euro 2020 squad last year but has since locked him out, claiming lately that he lacks the qualities he seeks in a goalkeeper.

“A goalkeeper should initiate play and produce early supremacy; they must dominate aerial play,” Enrique stated in June 2022.

“I need a goalkeeper who exudes tranquilly and calm to me – that doesn’t mean they won’t make mistakes; mistakes are a part of sport.””

De Gea has 45 caps for Spain, making him the more experienced of the five goalkeepers Enrique first considered.

Why Is Kepa Not playing For Spain At World Cup 2022?

With De Gea out, Kepa was the most recognisable goalkeeper in Spain’s preliminary team.

Chelsea’s shot-stopper has 11 national team caps and has played in the UEFA Champions League this season.

Kepa, on the other hand, will not be Spain’s starting goalkeeper at the 2022 World Cup after failing to make the cut.

Unai Simon of Athletic Bilbao has started 23 of Spain’s last 24 matches, earning this honour.

Enrique gave the 25-year-old his senior international debut in November 2020, and he hasn’t missed a game since.

Simon has played at Athletic Bilbao since 2016, eventually replacing Kepa as the club’s starting goalkeeper when he moved Chelsea in 2018.

With De Gea out, Kepa was the most well-known goalkeeper in Spain’s preliminary team. Chelsea’s goalkeeper has represented his country 11 times and has competed in the UEFA Champions League this season. Kepa, on the other hand, did not make the cut and will not be Spain’s starting goalkeeper at the 2022 World Cup. Unai Simon of Athletic Bilbao is set to win the award, having started 20 of Spain’s previous 21 games.

Since Enrique gave him his debut in November 2020, the 25-year-old has been a staple in the national team’s roster. Simon has been at Athletic Bilbao since 2016, and when Kepa left for Chelsea in 2018, he took over as the team’s starting goalkeeper. When supporters chastised Simon for repeatedly stepping out of goal to make clearances in June, Enrique defended him strongly.

I’m entirely at ease in his presence. “Neither do Robert Sanchez nor David Raya.” Enrique responded when asked about Simon. “The goaltender is in charge of making the first crucial play.” That is another area in which he shines. The point is, I advise him to do it. “I can’t seem to get up and play no matter what I try.” I see why that bothers certain people, but I appreciate his aggressive style of play.

Enrique is a great supporter of Simon and backed him vehemently in June this year when some fans questioned his habit of coming out of goal to make clearances.

“He doesn’t frighten me. Robert Sanchez and David Raya, on the other hand, do not “When asked about Simon, Enrique stated.

“The goalkeeper must establish the first advantage. And he is a specialist in this field. The problem is that I tell him he should do it. I don’t know how else to turn up and play.

“I realise that it makes folks who don’t like it nervous, but I appreciate how he plays.”

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Personal Life Of De Gea

De Gea is currently married to Edurne, a Spanish singer. They welcomed their first child, a daughter named Yanay, on March 4, 2021.

According to his Instagram page, he also has a best friend named Thiago Alcantara, with whom he has played for the Spanish U21 team. He enjoys living in Madrid so much that he paid 2.5 million pounds for a house there for his family.

David may not have the strongest command of spoken English, but after leaving Atletico Madrid, he was able to vastly improve his linguistic abilities. De Gea’s teammates at Manchester United, the most popular club in British football, are all too aware of how they are seen by their home audience. Learning English goes a long way toward appealing him to the masses.

With his passion for technology, particularly the web, he formed the “Rebel Gaming” eSports squad (2021). For additional details, see his official Instagram account.

Career Stats

David de Gea Facts

• De Gea played in the 2014 FIFA World Cup and made his debut for the Spain national team in 2014.
• David is 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighs 183 lbs.
• He has an eye problem called hyperopia, also known as farsightedness, and wears contact lenses during matches.
• Manchester United paid £17.8 million ($20.82 million) for De Gae, which set a British transfer record for a goalkeeper.
• De Gea’s girlfriend is Spanish singer, Edurne Garcia.

David de Gea’s Career Earnings

David De Gea has a contract with Manchester United for 5 years, where he earns in the region of $24 million per month. Over and above that, he can look forward to endorsement and advertising income as well.

Here’s an estimated overview of David de Gea’s annual earnings:

• David de Gea’s Salary in 2017 – $4.1  million
• David de Gea’s Salary in 2018 – $4.1 million
• David de Gea’s Salary in 2019 – $4.1 million
• David de Gea’s Salary in 2020 – $24 million
• David de Gea’s Salary in 2021 – $24 million
• David de Gea’s Salary in 2022 – $24 million

Awards & Achievements

Here are some highlights from David de Gea’s career:

• Since 2004, De Gea has played for his national side in all age groups, from U15 to the senior national side.
• In 2018, David de Gea received the FIFA FIFIPro World XI award.
• During 2014, he received the Sir Matt Busby Player of the year award.
• He impressed the world and received the PFA Premier League Team of the Year award in 2017.
• His performance was rewarded in the 2017-18 season with the Premier League Golden Glove award.

Net Worth Of Kepa Arrizabalaga

Kepa Arrizabalaga earns around £180,000 per week at Chelsea. His annual salary is approximately £9.3 million. Kepa Arrizabalaga became the world’s most expensive goalkeeper in 2018 when Chelsea paid £71.6 million for him. His market value is currently £80 million.

Football Career of Kepa Arizabalaga

Kepa Arrizabalaga began training with Athletico Bilbao when he was 10 years old in 2004. He made his senior squad debut in 2016 against Deportivo La Coruna, keeping a clean sheet and winning the match 1-0. Kepa started the majority of Bilbao’s games in 2017 and 2018, and his remarkable performance drew the attention of many big clubs.

Chelsea paid a record-breaking £71.6 million for him, the largest fee ever paid for a goalie. He enjoyed a decent initial season at Chelsea until he was heavily criticised for his below-par performance with the Blues. Kepa’s quick reflexes and agility qualify him as a penalty specialist.

Kepa made his U-21 national team debut in 2017 after an outstanding performance for Athletico Bilbao. He was named to the 2018 World Cup roster but did not play a single match because David De Gea was the first choice and Pepe Reina was the second choice goalkeeper.

Personal Life of Kepa Arizabalaga

Kepa was an exceptionally gifted young man. Aside from football, he enjoyed bird hunting with his father. He used to catch birds and teach them to sing in order to compete in the bird singing competition.

He is rumoured to have won the competition twice. Kepa, according to reports, is unmarried and does not appear to be in a relationship.

Quick Facts About Kepa Arrizabalaga

Name	Kepa Arrizabalaga
Net Worth	18 million pounds
Nickname	Kepller
Age	26 years old
Residence	London, United Kingdom
Marital Status	N/A
Spouse/Girlfriend	N/A
Sources of Wealth	Football
Height	1.86m
Endorsements	N/A
Last Updated	2021

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