David Raya started Spain’s opening World Cup match, as expected, on the substitutes’ bench with Unai Simon retaining his No.1 status.
The Arsenal goalkeeper played a starring role in the north London club’s first Premier League title-winning campaign, keeping 20 cleans sheets and securing a third consecutive Golden Glove award in the process.
Despite another outstanding season, Raya has been unable to dislodge Unai Simon who appears to retain the unwavering support of Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente.
The Athletic Bilbao shot stopper was part of the team that won the European Championship two years ago and despite competition from Raya, as well as Barcelona’s Juan Garcia, he got the nod to start his nation’s Group H fixture.
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Despite the blow of having to settle for the role of understudy, Raya insists the competition that exists in the squad can only represent an advantage as La Roja look to win back-to-back major tournaments.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference, he said: ‘[We take the debate] with total naturalness,” Raya said. ‘There’s always been a lot of competition, with the goalkeepers we have.
‘We try to push each other to be better, and make the manager’s job a bit more difficult to choose. We’re here to help each other. Whoever plays the first, second and third games will do the best they can.’
Spain demonstrated the strength of their goalkeeping department in their warm-up fixtures where Garcia started in a 1-1 draw with Iraq, before Simon and Raya played a half each in the 3-1 victory against Peru.
‘It’s normal that in the media, with Joan and Unai in LaLiga, there’s a debate,’ Raya said.
‘I have been away [from Spain] for a very long time. I remember the first time I came to the national team, people asked who I was … I’m trying to make it hard to the manager to decide.’
Given how long he has spent in England, 14 years to be precise, where he came through the ranks at Blackburn, Southport and Brentford, before getting his big break at Arsenal, Raya could have been eligible to play for the Three Lions.
‘No, it has never gone through my head,’ Raya said when asked if he ever considered switching allegencies.. ‘
‘I feel Spanish. I always wanted to play for Spain, and I never thought about it.’