Spain captain Sergio Busquets during the friendly against Portugal on June 4, 2021 at Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid. – Bagu Blanco / Pressinphoto / Shutterstock / SIPA
Unsurprisingly, it will take the Covid-19 for the Euro, which begins on Friday. FC Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets, captain of the Spanish team, has left the squad after testing positive, the Spanish Federation (RFEF) said in a statement. The RFEF specifies that “the rest of the members of the group have all tested negative”. The player, who “left the group in a medical vehicle”, will have to remain in quarantine for ten days, according to the protocols of UEFA and the Spanish government.
“Both workers and contacts close to the player will remain isolated in a preventive manner within the selection”, adds the federation. The players will train individually, remaining in a health bubble while awaiting their first match, on June 14 in Seville against Sweden.
Changes possible until Saturday
La Roja, placed in Group E, will also face Poland on June 19 and Slovakia on the 23rd. Coach Luis Enrique has until Saturday June 12, the day before the match, to make changes to his squad. And possibly replace Busquets, who had inherited the armband in the absence of Madrid’s Sergio Ramos. “The necessary sporting measures will be studied shortly depending on the evolution of the captain of the national team,” adds the RFEF. The management fears in particular that Busquets may have contaminated teammates, assures the daily Ace.
As a precaution, La Roja will not play their second friendly match, scheduled for Tuesday against Lithuania. The Under-21 team replaces her.
Spain are the second selection participating in the Euro to experience a similar mishap, five days after Dutchman Jasper Cillessen tested positive. The coach of Oranje Frank De Boer dismissed the goalkeeper, usual holder, of the group for the Euro.