Isco's Re-entry into National Squad: "I've always kept faith, and here I am now"
Three-Plus Decade Veteran, Isco Alarcón, Back with the Spanish National Team Post Six-Year Absence
At the ripe old age of 33 years, Isco Alarcón has made a stunning comeback to the Spanish national team. Overcoming a grueling injury that almost propelled him towards retirement, theatic banter on our platform revealed his renewed spirit. The invitation to 'La Roja' following a stellar season with Betis signifies resilience in its purest form, as Isco succinctly puts it, "There's no secret: keep working and insisting. Football has a knack for bestowing beautiful things."
The midfielder candidly admits to harboring doubts about his re-entry into the national team, especially under the watchful eye of manager Luis de la Fuente, who has an established squad in place. "There are moments of doubt, of course," he elaborates, "But I always held onto the hope of coming back. I never gave up, I never lost faith, and here I am. I'm extremely pleased, as this call-up means that he's recognized something in me, and it's an honor to be back."
Pre-Match Fervor with Unai Simón and Dani Olmo
ANTICIPATION IS BUILDING
In the lead-up to the encounter against France, veterans Unai Simón and Dani Olmo are particularly thrilled for Isco's comeback and Lamine Yamal.
"I couldn't leave like that. I had lots of football left to play"
Isco discloses that the coach assigns him minimal responsibilities, asking him only to "be himself, do what he does in his club, with some tweaks, but nothing novel." He joins a youthful and prodigious team that clinched the European Championship in Germany last year. "I had my doubts if I would feature or not," Isco discerns, recalling the left peroneal diaphyseal fracture that kept him out of the Euros. He spent his honeymoon and time in Japan following the tournament, watching the best team triumph as he cheered them on.
Injury nearly led to retirement, but Isco found the motivation to shine once more in his passion for football. "I couldn't walk away, I needed to return, I had many ambitions to re-experience the beautiful moments. I’ve had to weather some rough waves, as we all do, but eventually, we come out enjoying life again."
Uncertainty Surrounding the Ballon d'Or
With his re-entry into the national team, his children are more excited to see their father play alongside Lamine Yamal than about the call-up itself, as Isco has revealed. He playfully requests a favored gesture from the FC Barcelona winger: "Let’s see if Lamine offers me a signed shirt or something similar. Let’s see if he plays his cards right."
Yamal is among the contenders for the Ballon d'Or set to be awarded on September 22nd. Wavering at the prospect of choosing a favorite, Isco states, "The parameters to decide the winner fluctuate depending on the year. No one knows if it’s for goals, titles, or who plays better. I hope a Spanish contender takes home the trophy."
Among his top choices for the award: "Dembélé, who achieved the treble, Fabian (Ruiz) could make the cut, Lamine, who has netted one of the best performances of the year, Mbappé..."
Isco's return to the Spanish national team after a six-year absence has sparked much excitement among his teammates Unai Simón and Dani Olmo, as they prepare for the encounter against France. Despite the minimal responsibilities assigned to him, Isco expresses his passion for football, which almost led him to retirement due to injury, but he found the motivation to shine once more.
In the race for the Ballon d'Or, Isco mentions several contenders, including Lamine Yamal, who has had a standout year, as well as other talented players like Mbappé, Dembélé, and Fabian Ruiz.
