Spain’s golden generation has officially been and gone, but La Raja remain one of the favourites to win the 2024 European Championship.
Luis de la Fuente’s side won seven of their eight matches in qualifying and head into the tournament with an excitingly youthful squad.
After exiting the 2022 World Cup at the last-16 stage following a penalty shootout defeat to Morocco, Spain are a good bet for success at Euro 2024, especially considering their Nations League triumph in 2023.
READ MORE: Euro 2024 Draw – Groups, fixtures, knockouts, favourites
Although they are no longer blessed with the likes of Xavi or Andres Iniesta, there are still a host of talented players in Spain’s squad and they are expected to go deep into the knockout stages.
Below, FootballTransfers predicts Spain’s first-choice starting XI at Euro 2024.
READ MORE: Euro 2024 top scorers
How Spain will line up at Euro 2024
David Raya has enjoyed a brilliant season at Arsenal, but Unai Simon is Spain’s number one and the Athletic Club star will start Euro 2024 as De la Fuente’s preferred choice.
There are a plethora of full-back options available for Spain and Dani Carvajal faces a battle with Tottenham’s Pedro Porro to start on the right. However, the Real Madrid man is likely to start.
![Alejando Grimaldo helped Bayer Leverkusen win the 2023-24 Bundesliga title](https://static.footballtransfers.com/images/cn/image/upload/q_75,w_750,h_422,ar_750.421/footballcritic/r0z0k9zcwysff2bb2wwj.webp)
At left-back, Alejandro Grimaldo is expected to be rewarded for his stellar campaign at Bayer Leverkusen, although Jose Gaya, Alejandro Balde or Marc Cucurella could also be chosen.
Barcelona starlet Pau Cubarsi is a late contender to start at centre-back, but De la Fuente is more likely to persist with the more experienced pairing of Robin Le Normand and Aymeric Laporte.
Manchester City’s Rodri will be the anchor in the middle of the park, however the rest of Spain’s midfield is slightly difficult to predict.
In qualifying, Rodri was typically accompanied by Gavi and either Mikel Merino or Fabian Ruiz. However, Gavi will miss Euro 2024 due to an ACL injury and this could see De la Fuente switch to a 4-2-3-1 system in order for Dani Olmo to play as an attacking midfielder.
However, Gavi’s Barcelona team-mate Pedri could well come straight into the starting XI as his replacement in order to maintain a 4-3-3 system. This is arguably the more likely scenario.
![Dani Olmo is likely to start for Spain at Euro 2024](https://static.footballtransfers.com/images/cn/image/upload/q_75,w_750,h_422,ar_750.421/footballcritic/mmmzrnh1i6ce1jsafr2o.webp)
As a result, Olmo may be shifted to the left flank, although he will face significant competition from Athletic Club’s Nico Williams.
Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal will start on the right, while Atletico Madrid’s Alvaro Morata will lead the line.
Spain’s starting XI at Euro 2024
GK: Unai Simon
RB: Dani Carvajal
CB: Robin Le Normand
CB: Aymeric Laporte
LB: Alejandro Grimaldo
CDM: Rodri
CM: Pedri
CM: Fabian Ruiz
RW: Lamine Yamal
LW: Dani Olmo
ST: Alvaro Morata
Spain’s Euro 2024 squad
TBC.