Gayà's injury could open the doors of the World Cup to Balde or M. Alonso

Spain has its first setback before the start of the World Cup. One week before the debut against Costa Rica, José Luis Gayà was injured in the last training session before the friendly against Jordan that La Roja will play this Thursday in Amman. According to the official medical report, the left side suffers a "diagnostic hypothesis of a low-grade lateral sprain in the right ankle" and an MRI will reveal the severity of the problem in the next few hours.

🚨 PARTE MÉDICO | @jose_gaya

➡️ Hipótesis diagnóstica de esguince lateral de bajo grado en el tobillo derecho.

➡️ Pendiente de resultado de resonancia magnética.#VamosEspaña | #Catar2022 pic.twitter.com/IQfUhsNv4d

— Selección Española de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) November 16, 2022

In this sense, the injury to the Valencia player could open the door for another FC Barcelona player to the World Cup. Marcos Alonso and Alejandro Balde look like the main alternatives to replace the 27-year-old defender if his ankle does not recover in time. Marcos has already counted regularly for Luis Enrique, while Balde is Barça's great revelation so far this season.

Undisputed starter in LaLiga for Xavi Hernández, the youth squad player has won the title from Jordi Alba, who will be in Qatar, and Alonso himself, who started in the group stage of the Champions League. The former Chelsea winger was not called up for the last Euro Cup, but he did add minutes in the UEFA Nations League. However, everything will depend on the results of the tests at Gayà during the day on Thursday.

In this sense, the Medicine Commission of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) must certify that the injury is serious enough to justify the substitution. Likewise, FIFA will authorize the appointment of another player, even if he was not part of the provisional list prepared by the coach, as long as the request is made 48 hours before Spain's debut in the tournament.

Jordi Alba could start against Costa Rica

If José Luis Gayà's injury keeps the grade minor and the Valencia player remains in the squad, Jordi Alba aims to occupy the right side in La Roja's debut on Wednesday the 23rd against Costa Rica in Doha. On Thursday, the Barça winger should take the opportunity to win integers in the friendly against Jordan, although it is clear that Luis Enrique maintains full confidence in the man from L'Hospitalet, one of the most discussed for his inclusion in the final list of 26.

Another who will start against Jordan is Ansu Fati, as confirmed by 'Lucho' himself. The confirmed casualties of Marcos Llorente, Hugo Guillamón and Álvaro Morata open the door for Barça's '10', who will return to the National Team after two years martyred by injuries. "Stop referring to Ansu as a player who has overcome X injuries. Get it out of his head. He is a player like all the others, who has to recover his best level", sentenced the coach in his last press conference.