Fernando S. Tavero and Ignacio Camacho share the story of Víctor Muñoz, Jorge de Frutos, and Alberto Moleiro, who stand on the penultimate step toward the World Cup. They are among the 55 players selected by Luis de la Fuente in a preliminary list submitted to FIFA on May 11, from which the final 26 will be chosen. For the first time, they are on the brink of a major tournament, a reward for their performances. This trio has been making merits all season and could reap the greatest fruits. They are awaiting the “four or five spots that might be open,” as the coach put it. Their eyes are on May 25, when De la Fuente will share the official squad, though changes are still possible (FIFA will receive the definitive 48 lists on June 2). The countdown has begun.
For Víctor Muñoz, this wait is doubly significant. He is simultaneously recovering from a soleus muscle injury that disrupted his final stretch with Osasuna. However, it should not prevent him from finishing the season on the pitch. He won’t be ready for tomorrow’s match against Atlético Madrid, but the timeline suggests he could get some minutes against Espanyol or Getafe. The Spanish Football Federation does not view this as a setback that could affect his potential call-up. “The World Cup is a dream,” he said in an interview with AS. That dream could become reality after being one of La Liga’s sharpest weapons. He has established himself as one of the league’s top dribblers, contributing tangible imbalance to his game: six goals and five assists. During his first call-up and training camp in March, he only added weight to his personal World Cup chances, thanks to his goal against Serbia and his adaptation to the group—something crucial for De la Fuente.
That “it cannot be” moment… The winger’s battle has long raised questions about the status of the undisputed starters. Especially after yesterday, when Nico Williams was seen saying “it cannot be” with his lips. He suffers from “a moderate injury to the hamstring muscles of his left leg.” He bids farewell to the season and will be out for three weeks. This, following the pubic problems that have plagued him, further disrupts the MVP of the last Euro final. Although he hopes to be ready, he plans to recover—curiously, in Pamplona—alongside Jurdan Mendigutxia, a physio Nico fully trusts, who has managed his pubalgia treatment. The Federation, while cautious, will wait for him.
De Frutos, against Strasbourg. (MONAMMED BADRA)
Amid all these uncertainties, certainties emerge. Like De Frutos, who made his debut with La Roja during the September break (against Turkey), with versatility as his hallmark. Capable of playing as a striker or starting from the right wing, he is a natural winger. His season has been an explosion of goals, with those 12 strikes that put him level with Álvaro as the top scorer for Franja.
Moleiro, against Levante. (CARME RIPOLLES)
Similarly, Moleiro has found in Villarreal the ideal springboard for his football. He has enhanced his talent between the lines, allowing him to perform effectively as an interior midfielder. He has sharpened his claws, reaching 10 goals from the left wing position where Marcelino is maximizing his potential. He was close to being called up in March, and now he takes a step further by making the preliminary list.