Girona FC are to visit India for the first time as one of the competing sides in the LaLiga World Tournament to be held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi, Kerala.
In the pre-season tournament that is scheduled to take place between 24 and 28 July 2018, the LaLiga outfit will be locking horns against A-League team Melbourne City FC and the Indian Super League (ISL) side Kerala Blasters on July 27 and 28 respectively.
The Gironistes are set to play in India after Bundesliga outfit Bayern Munich took on the Indian national team in former India skipper Bhaichung Bhutia's farewell match in 2012. Girona will hence also be the first ever team from Spain's LaLiga to play in India.
Girona FC had qualified for the La Liga last season for the very first time in their 87-year-old history. In their maiden season, they finished 10th in the league. Their biggest achievement last year was beating Champions League winners Real Madrid 2-1.
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Girona FC squad: Goalkeepers: Gorka Iraizoz Moreno, Yassine Bounou, Marc Vito Brezmes; Defenders: Bernado Jose Espinosa Zuniga, Jonas Ramalho Chimeno, Pedro Alcala Guirado, Francisco Aday Benitez Caraballo, Juan Pedro Ramirez Lopez, Marc Muniesa Martinez, Carles Planas Antolines, Sebastia Coris Cardenosa; Midfielders: Alex Granell Nogue, Pere Pons Reira, David Timor Copovi, Borja Garcia Freire, Ruben Alcaraz Jimenez, Aleix Garcia Serrano; Forwards: Cristian Potugues Manzanera, Antony Ruben Lozano Colon, Yhoan Many Andzouana, Kevin Olivier Soni, Pedro Antonio Porro Sauceda. |
Barcelona youth product Marc Muniesa will make the trip to India but Uruguay international Cristhian Stuani, who replaced the injured Edinson Cavani during their group game at the 2018 World Cup, is not included in the squad.
Speaking of staging the LaLiga World Tournament in India, LaLiga's India manager Jose Cachaza said, "We massively look forward to Girona FC’s visiting and playing in India for the first time. Knowing the love for the most beautiful game in this country, we are sure the fans are as excited as we are to watch the matches.
"Seeing a top ten LaLiga football club in person will surely spark a change in the footballing environment of this country and we are glad to have played our part to make it happen for the fans in India," he added.
Girona FC president Delfí Geli commented, "It is an honour for our club to participate in this tournament in India. For Girona FC it will be a special experience as it will be the first time our team has played away from Europe since its foundation 88 years ago.
"We are looking forward to starting the tournament and showing the football that we have displayed in LaLiga to the Indian football fans and the world."
