Josep Martinez and Diouf's First Call-ups: A Tale of Two Selections
With the national team break approaching after this Serie A matchday, player call-ups are official. Inter’s squad sees notable first-time senior national team inclusions: Josep Martinez for Spain and Andy Diouf for France.
While Diouf's anticipated call-up from French coach Zinedine Zidane had been rumored, Martinez’s selection by Spain’s Luis de la Fuente was not initially foreseen.
The Crucial Difference
A significant distinction separates these two call-ups. Diouf earned his spot through consistent, strong performances on the right flank for his club, both domestically and in European competitions, leading to Zidane’s deliberate choice. Pepo Martinez, however, was not among de la Fuente’s initial selections for September’s fixtures.
The Spanish coach had originally planned for Barcelona’s Joan Garcia. However, Garcia sustained an injury during Barcelona's 7-2 victory over Racing Santander. This setback forced de la Fuente to reconsider, leading him to select Pepo Martinez. De la Fuente is familiar with Martinez, having previously worked with him in Spain's youth selections.
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