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COVID-19 casts long shadow over Euro 2020 as multiple players test positive
CGTN
Spain captain Sergio Busquets (L) tackles Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo during their pre-Euro friendly at Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, Spain, June 4, 2021. /CFP

Spain captain Sergio Busquets (L) tackles Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo during their pre-Euro friendly at Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, Spain, June 4, 2021. /CFP

Just five days before starting their Euro 2020 campaign against Sweden in Seville, Spain's preparation for the tournament was thrown into further disarray after defender Diego Llorente became the second player from the country's squad to test positive for COVID-19 after captain Sergio Busquets. 

Both Llorente and Busquets have left the training camp in medical transport as per the protocol while other players, who will be vaccinated on Wednesday, will remain in isolation and have personalized training. 

Spain coach Luis Enrique has yet to confirm whether the two would be dropped from the squad. Both of them have to stay in isolation for at least 10 days, which means they will be unable to play any part in Spain's opening game.

Sergio Busquets (bottom) and teammates attend Spain's first training session at the Ciudad del Futbol in Las Rozas de Madrid, Spain, May 31, 2021. /CFP

Sergio Busquets (bottom) and teammates attend Spain's first training session at the Ciudad del Futbol in Las Rozas de Madrid, Spain, May 31, 2021. /CFP

Aside from Llorente and Busquets, eight players in Spain's squad, including Jose Gaya, Mikel Oyarzabal, Thiago, Adama Traore, Aymeric Laporte, Eric Garcia, Fabian Ruiz and Ferran Torres have fallen victim to coronavirus since the start of the pandemic. 

In case new positive tests arise, Spain called up six new players to take part in a parallel training bubble. Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga and Villarreal's Raul Albiol will begin to train on Wednesday, joining Rodrigo Moreno (Leeds United), Pablo Fornals (West Ham United), Carlos Soler (Valencia) and Brais Mendez (Celta Vigo), who arrived a day earlier. 

While Spain's senior squad are still in isolation, their final warm-up match against Lithuania on Tuesday night was played by the under-21 players. From the 20 players called up for the game, 19 had never played for the senior team, but the youngsters duly stepped up to the challenge and thumped their hapless opponents 4-0. 

That would be scant consolation to Enrique, who could only hope coronavirus won't strike another blow.

Spain's Diego Llorente in action during their pre-Euro friendly at Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, Spain, June 4, 2021. /CFP

Spain's Diego Llorente in action during their pre-Euro friendly at Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, Spain, June 4, 2021. /CFP

Spain are not the only Euro team to suffer significant disruptions. Their fellow Group E opponents Sweden find themselves in a similar situation as Dejan Kulusevski, who plays for Italian giants Juventus, and Bologna midfielder Mattias Svanberg tested positive on Tuesday. 

"We won't bring in anyone else to replace Dejan and we hope that he will be back soon," Swedish team doctor Anders Valentin said in a press conference, confirming the Juventus star will not be available for the game against Spain. 

Valentin also added that Kulusevski would remain in Stockholm while the rest of the squad traveled to Gothenburg. It represented another setback for Sweden, who have already lost AC Milan talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic to a knee injury back in May. 

Juventus' Dejan Kulusevski during their Serie A clash Bologna at Stadio Renato Dall'Ara in Bologna, Italy, May 23, 2021. /CFP

Juventus' Dejan Kulusevski during their Serie A clash Bologna at Stadio Renato Dall'Ara in Bologna, Italy, May 23, 2021. /CFP

Earlier this month, Scotland were also forced to pull out six players from their friendly against Netherlands after John Fleck tested positive during a pre-game screening. The Sheffield United midfielder is isolating at Scotland's training camp in Spain and could miss their opening game against the Czech Republic on Monday. 

The hope within European football's governing body is that the existing anti-virus measures, which were used throughout the club game last season, will ensure a safe Euro and minimal disruption, but as the current situation shows, guaranteeing the smooth running of the tournament is going to be a tall order. 

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