The under-21s is a very different arena to senior football – but even so, just three players making the Spain squad from the three big pillars of Spanish football in Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atlético Madrid came as a surprise. To make things worse, zero of those players play for Real Madrid. Not one. Rafa Marin from Napoli was the only Castilla graduate in the squad for the game against Slovakia, and he did not come off of the bench. Normally at least a goalkeeper is called up (Fran González etc.).
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Still, there were some dream Castilla signings on show in the likes of Mateo Joseph and the substitute Juanma Herzog – and the game turned out to be a goal-fest. Spain had a dream start, finding themselves 2-0 up after 18 minutes. Slovakia hit back in the first 8 minutes of the second half, levelling the score. Spain would go on to find a later winner in the 90th – with Cesar Tarrega securing the points in the first European Championship qualifier.