Javi Rodríguez surprised by Luis de la Fuente call-up

Javi Rodríguez, defender of RC Celta de Vigo, received a call from Spain manager Luis de la Fuente. The call came on Monday and was unexpected. Rodríguez is among nine players selected to train with the Spanish national squad during the first week of pre‑World Cup concentration. The concentration precedes the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Rodríguez said he was lying on the sofa with his girlfriend when the phone rang. He noted that the call caught him off guard. The nine‑player group will join the senior squad for the initial training session. Their involvement is limited to the first week before the tournament proper.