The captain of the Spain national team, Sergio Busquets has tested positive for the dreaded coronavirus 5 days before the commencement of the European Championship (Euro 2020).
The 32-year-old defensive midfielder returned a positive result during the latest round of the Covid-19 test conducted in the camp of the Spanish national team. Hence, Sergio Busquet’s had to leave the camp to isolate until he tests negative for the virus.
At the time of publishing this report, The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) was yet to confirm whether the national team captain would be replaced in the country’s 26-man squad. If he is not replaced ahead of the competition, the FC Barcelona star might miss the first few games in the competition.
A statement from RFEF which confirmed that Sergio Busquets had left the Las Rozas training camp after testing positive for the virus, disclosed that all those who were in close contact with the defensive midfielder would remain in isolation until they are medically cleared to join the rest of the team.
“The Federation’s medical services have adopted all the necessary measures in a case of these characteristics by the protocols established by both the Ministry of Health and UEFA so that the footballer has abandoned the concentration in a medical vehicle,” the statement read.
“Both the employees and the close contacts of the player will remain isolated for prevention in the concentration of the National Team and personalized training routines will be undertaken, maintaining the isolation, to continue with the preparation of the Euros.”
Sergio Busquets who has been playing for the Spanish national team since April 1, 2009, tested positive for the virus two days after featuring in Spain’s friendly match against Portugal which ended 0-0 in Madrid.
He will miss the country’s last preparatory match on Tuesday, June 8, which will be against Lithuania in Leganes. The friendly match will be played by Spain’s under-21 team and the coach of the youth team, Luis De La Fuente will oversee the game instead of the national team coach Luis Enrique.
This will be so for the medical safety of the two teams that will be involved in the planned friendly game.
As it stands, Sergio Busquets is likely to miss Spain’s opening game against Sweden on June 14 and probably some of the other Group E games which involve Poland and Slovakia. All the group E games in the competition will be played at the Estadio La Cartuja in Sevilla.
Meanwhile, Ben White has replaced the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold in England’s 26-man squad for Euro 2020.
Recall that Alexander-Arnold sustained a thigh injury during a friendly game between England and Austria less than a week ago which ruled him out of the European Championship.
Ben White who plays as a defender for Brighton was one of the players who were dropped when coach Gareth Southgate cut down his 30-man squad to 26. He might play from the bench when England play their opener against Croatia on Sunday, June 13.
Congratulations @ben6white, you're heading to #EURO2020 with the #ThreeLions! pic.twitter.com/HeZ7YKrY8x
— England (@England) June 7, 2021
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