Spain

Can I have a Right Winger Please?

This past weekend as Villarreal was humiliated 3-0 by Almería, Santi Cazorla was stretchered off in the 64th minute with a foot injury. After the game it was revealed that he has an ankle fracture which will keep him out for a minimum of four months.

As it is we are already without Andrés Iniesta and now losing Cazorla means we are extremely short on the right flank.

Luckily Iniesta will be back sooner rather than later meaning he should be fully fit by the time the FIFA Confederations Cup rolls around on June 14.

In our romping of Turkey last week in Istanbul it was obvious that our midfield was definitely one we should be worried about. Our wide play which helped us ever so much in the European Championships this past summer but lately we haven’t been able to produce our best form down the flanks.

With Santi out del Bosque will obviously have to call-up a different face into the squad to fill the void left on the right side. Now of course, Cazorla doesn’t start so the player called up would have to be satisfied with coming off the bench.

Our options are pretty simple. Last game Riera had a solid game on the left side but since he’s a natural left footer I doubt he would be used on the right flank. Juan Mata also had a good game against Turkey in Madrid when he came on as a substitute in the final 20 minutes and showed promise, especially as a up and coming talent. Diego Capel has been called up to the squad before and is always a threat with his quick feet and blistering pace. The problem with all these men is that they are left sided players and we are looking for one to cover the right. Of course left footers can play on the right flank but it’s much easier for a right footed player to maneuver down the side he is comfortable with.

The only player I can think of which could substantially fill that gap is Sevilla winger Jesús Navas. There was a lot of talk about calling him up to the squad earlier this year when La Furia Roja took on England in the Andalucían capital but neither him or his teammate Diego Capel were given the shout. The Sevilla native has suffered terrible homesickness which has limited the number of stamps on his passport when playing for Spain and despite a significant improvement in this crazy illness and outstanding form for the Rojiblanco, he has yet to be called up by Vicente del Bosque.

Only time will tell what Mr. del Bosque decides to do and there is by no means any rush to choose but at the same time, by the time the time the Confederations Cup rolls around this summer, we could see a whole different España.