Chelsea’s Cesar Azpilcueta could be Spain’s secret weapon, if he played

It has been one of life’s great mysteries why Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta has barely been in the national team. Just kidding, it’s not much of a mystery. The Spanish National Team, like many national teams, is dominated by the largest clubs within the nation. When Real Madrid and Barcelona pull the strings, there isn’t much that can be done.

That said, Luis Enrique has bucked against this trend more than any other Spanish manager. He even went so far as to call up exactly zero Real Madrid players. He even went a step further and opted not to call up a full roster, instead sticking closer to the original 23. Azpilicueta returned from exile to make the team.

Cesar Azpilicueta could be a secret weapon for Spain like he was for Chelsea this campaign. That is, if Luis Enrique actually played him. Enrique may not be bending the knee to Real Madrid or Barcelona, but he isn’t exactly venturing far from his trusted lieutenants.

First of all, in the opening two fixtures Spain has looked pretty Spanish. Tons of possession and passing but very little penetration. It would surely help if Alvaro Morata didn’t need the wind to blow the right way to score an onside goal, but that’s an aside. Overall, it just doesn’t look like Spain has the drive to really get at the opponent the way Germany did with Portugal.

Enter Azpilicueta. Thomas Tuchel did change formations when he arrived and that created a spot for the captain and Reece James, but Tuchel highly values the leadership and organization Azpilicueta brings. He checks all the boxes and Tuchel’s reliance on the Spaniard helped the Blues get over the line at the end.

Meanwhile, Spain is playing a midfielder at right back. Marcos Llorente is a fine enough player but it makes little sense to call up one right back and then not play him. Even in the realm of international management where players are often out of position, it’s odd to look at a Champions League winning captain and try to put square pegs in round holes.

Azpilicueta didn’t call this out directly, but he did draw a line between Chelsea’s poor midsection to the season and Spain’s poor start. Spain don’t nearly look as down and out as Chelsea did in the winter, but they need to rebound fast in the same way Chelsea did. Azpilicueta did his part for club, he could be the secret weapon for country.

Spain’s last group match is against Slovakia, a team they should soundly beat. They should have beat Sweden and Poland too though, and here they are. If the difference maker could be an actual right back at right back and someone who can galvanize the side, then he has to play.

This could be Enrique’s last chance to get things right. Failing to do so probably costs Spain the knockouts and Enrique a job. He’ll need more changes than just Azpilicueta in the XI, but the Chelsea captain could be a key difference between advancing and collapsing.