To be at the World Cup waiting for an opportunity that never comes

BarcelonaSpain has already reached the round of 16 after defeating Austria (3-0) and will face Portugal on Monday, July 6 (9:00 PM). The red one monopolized possession and improved on the feelings left from the group stage, but it is still far from being that fearsome team from the European Championship that was capable of eliminating Germany, France, and England.

Luis de la Fuente has found in this World Cup a group of eighteen players –nineteen if we count the three minutes Marc Pubill had in added time of the round of 32– who form the solid base of the Spanish national team. A list headed by goalkeeper Unai Simón – who with a clean sheet against Austria surpassed Walter Zenga and holds the World Cup clean sheet record (519 minutes without conceding) –, the Barça player Pau Cubarsí, and the new Real Madrid player Marc Cucurella. All three have played every possible minute in the World Cup (417).

On the other side of the scale, we find Eric Garcia, Joan Garcia, Alejandro Grimaldo, Borja Iglesias, Martín Zubimendi, Víctor Muñoz, and David Raya. These are the seven footballers called up to the Spanish national team who have not yet had any minutes. Most of them are players who have had a great season with their teams but have not had the reward of debuting at the World Cup. Few rotations in a short tournament where physical condition can also end up making a difference.

The defense is where there have been the fewest changes. The solidity that Spain has shown – they are the only team, along with Mexico, that has not yet conceded a goal – has worked in favor of Unai Simón, Pau Cubarsí, Aymeric Laporte – who has only missed three minutes – and Marc Cucurella. Luis de la Fuente has only rotated at right-back, where Marcos Llorente has played two matches (Cape Verde and Uruguay) and Pedro Porro, who scored against Austria, has played the other two (Saudi Arabia and Austria).

Meanwhile, Eric Garcia is waiting for his moment on the bench. For the center-back from Martorell – who can also play as a full-back on both sides and as a defensive midfielder – being on the World Cup list was a complete surprise. Not because of the sporting performance he has shown during the season with Barça, but because of the little continuity he has had since Luis de la Fuente's arrival, as he had never selected him until this last call-up.

"It is known to everyone the performance these two players [Eric Garcia and Marc Pubill] have offered. It was the right moment, because they are in a great moment," said the coach, who knows Eric well from the lower categories, at the presentation of the call-up. In fact, the Catalan player was an undisputed starter at the 2021 Olympic Games with the same De la Fuente – forming a partnership with Pau Torres – and in 2024 with Santi Denia – sharing the center of defense with Pau Cubarsí.

Its versatility works in its favor

With a consolidated central pairing –Cubarsí and Laporte–, everything points to Eric Garcia potentially having minutes on the right flank, where neither Marcos Llorente nor Pedro Porro seem to have fully convinced the coach. Another alternative could be in midfield, where he has also performed well with Barça and coincided with Pedri. Rodri ended up being debated after the group stage, but neither the player from Martorell –who sees himself more than ready to occupy the position De la Fuente deems most opportune– nor Zubimendi got their chance.

Eric Garcia is calm, but the sensations coming from the United States are that it will be complicated for him to get minutes in this World Cup. The player from Martorell has not been included in Luis de la Fuente's plans, neither to change game scripts where a different approach was needed –like against Cape Verde–, nor to give rest to the starters –like against Saudi Arabia–, nor when it was necessary to defend a lead –as was the case in the matches against Uruguay and Austria–. In all scenarios, the coach has opted not to deviate from the initially planned script, with only 18 players in mind.

The connection with Lamine Yamal

Beyond the quality that Eric Garcia can bring, both in defensive solidity and in ball circulation from the back, the defender also understands Lamine Yamal perfectly, with whom he has shared the right flank at Barça this season. This connection, already innate and developed throughout the season, could be another argument for placing the Martorell native on the right side of the Spanish defense.

It is not the first time Eric has experienced a similar situation. In the 2022-23 season, with Xavi Hernández on the blaugrana bench, the Catalan did not have the continuity he would have wished for. This led him to go on loan for a season to Girona – where Míchel utilized him as a right-back – before returning to Barça and establishing himself with Hansi Flick. Whether he gets minutes in the World Cup or not, Eric Garcia will be important again next season with the blaugrana jersey, whether as a full-back, a centre-back, or in midfield.