Lopetegui: "Carvajal will fight to play the first game"

Julen Lopetegui spoke to El Larguero ahead of the World Cup as his Spanish side head to Russia as one of the favourites to win the tournament.

Carvajal: "There was a feeling it wasn't too bad and that was confirmed with the scan. The doctors told us that he is going to fight to play in the first game. We will see his development, the feelings he has and the last week will be working with everyone. We thought that it was worth waiting for Carvajal."

Morata's absence: "He might be the most noticeable but I don't forget Bartra, Vitolo, Illarramendi or Sergi Roberto. They couldn't make it. In the end, there is not much difference and the behaviour is good. There is little consolation but their reaction has been very good."

What did Morata say: "I'm not going to reveal what was said in a private conversation. Everyone was good."

Aspas, Costa and Rodrigo: "There are three that can coexist in any game. They have different conditions and can mix well. Or you can player without a striker. We are calm in this respect. With those three, the position is very well covered."

Defence: "I knew that I was going with three strikers. With the defenders, I had the option to take out an attacker and put in another defender. But in the end there eight that got in over small details."

Piqué: "I speaks a lot to him about football. He doesn't talk about his departure. In the future, we will see and now we will enjoy the World Cup and after we will see what Piqué decides."

Iniesta: "Andrés has been in a state of permanent tribute for the last couple of weeks. Deservedly so. Now he has to focus, go to the World Cup in a prepared manner. He will treat him like we treat him in any moment."

Renewal until 2020: "I was sure that the president coming in would have the final say. He knew that I wanted to lead the new generation into Europe. I don't look beyond the World Cup. The renewal was not a priority and later, I'll talk about it."

España

• España

NewsStatistics