Why Raul Garcia Should Be Axed for Spain Following Loss to Germany

Raul Garcia could find his place in the Spain squad in jeopardy after failing to make a positive impression during La Roja’s friendly defeat to Germany on Tuesday.

Much like his international debut (against France) in September, Garcia operated on the periphery of the game. He was safe in possession but was provided with precious little of the type of service he thrives upon at club level.

With other players starting to emerge on the international scene, Garcia’s national team career is in danger of coming to a quick and abrupt end.

The Atletico Madrid midfielder was initially called up by Vicente del Bosque on the back of Spain’s embarrassing early exit from the World Cup and Garcia's own contributions to Atletico’s La Liga triumph.

The Pamplona native’s haul of 13 goals and seven assists in Primera Division and Champions League matches in 2013/14 suggested he had something to offer to the national team even as a first-time selection at the age of 28.

But Garcia is a player with very specific attributes, which his colleagues and the coaching staff have failed to take advantage of in his two national team appearances to date.

Atletico use Garcia as an aerial out-ball to start attacks, float diagonals towards the back post for him to compete for and make him a central part of their set-piece routines. They get him into positions where his strength, aerial ability and eye for goal can be best utilised.

On Tuesday, Spain made no special allowances for Garcia. He was stationed on the right flank in a 4-2-3-1 formation and usually received the ball in deep, wide positions. He linked decently with the overlapping Cesar Azpilicueta but was not regularly involved.

Look at the aerial duels Garcia was involved in on Tuesday (Spain attacking from left to right), per WhoScored.com:

Courtesy of WhoScored

Next, contrast Tuesday's performance with that in Atletico’s 2-1 win away to Real Madrid earlier this season (Atletico attacking from right to left) during which he was also stationed on the right of midfield:

Courtesy of WhoScored

Garcia did get into dangerous positions on a couple of occasions on Tuesday. He had a left-footed effort from the edge of the area that was comfortably saved and also headed over from a free-kick from Isco that was whipped in but just too a little too far behind him for solid contact to be made.

In addition, he played his part in Spain’s aggressive pressing of the right-footed German left wing-back, Erik Durm.

But his overall contribution, through little fault of his own, was negligible.

If Del Bosque has no plans to change his approach in order to incorporate Garcia into the team, there are better options available to him. Jose Callejon and Nolito both provide a similar goal output to Garcia, and their qualities can also be more easily integrated into the national team’s style of play.

Callejon possesses a poacher’s instinct inside the penalty area but is also quick enough to be a threat in behind. Nolito is neat and tidy on the ball, while his direct dribbling offers an alternative means of incision to the close-quarter exchanges that have become Spain’s trademark.

Garcia is a useful player in the right circumstances—even at club level, Diego Simeone only started him in 18 league matches last season—but it is unlikely that Spain will encounter such situations during their qualifying campaign for Euro 2016.

There is an argument to be made for his inclusion in the tournament squad. Spain may need to adopt a more solid and defensive shape at times or may require a player with aerial presence for occasions when they are in need of a late goal.

But at the present moment in time, Garcia looks like little more than a spare part in Spain’s post-World Cup rebuilding process.