David Raya toned down the debate over the starting goalkeeper for Spain at the World Cup, praising teammate Unai Simón on Saturday and saying La Roja is in good hands with him.Spain begins its quest for a second World Cup title on Monday against Cape Verde in Group H in Atlanta.Simón has been the regular starter under coach Luis de la Fuente, but talk about a possible change in goal increased following stellar seasons by the squad’s other goalkeepers: Raya, who helped Arsenal win the Premier League and reach the Champions League final, and Joan García, who helped Barcelona win the Spanish league while being named the competition’s best goalkeeper.“Spain is in very good hands no matter who gets to play,” Raya said Saturday. “I think Unai Simón, since his debut, has raised the level of the goalkeeping position. We won the Nations League and the European Championship with him. And I think he’s a great goalkeeper who has given us these titles as the starter.”
De la Fuente did not name his starting goalkeeper in advance, adding fuel to the debate in Spain. He used all three of them in the team’s warmups ahead of the World Cup, though Simón got the nod to start in the final preparation match.
