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Injuries and the international break in football is an old duo. And the latest news has been around Spain’s young center back Pau Cubarsi. The 18-year-old had earned his maiden national team call-up from Luis De La Fuente after delivering a spectacular string of performances with FC Barcelona. However, the defender has been injured after starting in Spain’s latest match against Netherlands. The two teams faced off against each other in the first leg of the Nation’s League quarter-finals at the Feyenoord Stadium. Pau Cubarsi had to be subbed off in the 41st minute due to a sprain in his ankle.
And the latest news around his injury has been that the youngster is making his way back to Barcelona as he will miss Spain's second leg fixture against the Netherlands. The Spanish team coach does not want to take any risk with the young defender and has called up Lazio FC’s center-back Mario Gila as Pau Cubarsi’s replacement. Cubarsi's injury in the first half itself meant a debut for another youngster Dean Huijsen; as the 19-year-old Bournemouth defender came on to replace Cubarsi.
Cubarsi’s injury poses major concern to Hansi Flick
Earlier, Spain coach De La Fuente wanted Cubarsi to stay with the squad for the upcoming second leg but after undergoing tests, it was found that Cubarsi had to leave the national team camp and go back to Barcelona. De La Fuente had said, “Pau Cubarsi only has a small sprain, we hope and want him to be with us on Sunday. But of course we will not risk anything.” However, now it has been confirmed that Cubarsi will miss Spain's next match as he will fly back to Barcelona.
Cubarsi's injury means a concern for Barcelona coach Hansi Flick as well as he has been the mainstay center back for the Blaugrana this season. Along with that, Barcelona will have to gear up for a jam-packed schedule right after the international break as they will play four matches in a span of just 10 days due to the rescheduling of one of their cancelled matches.
