According to Sport, 25-year-old Eric Garcia has lived up to the expectations of coach De la Fuente's team.
Although he had never previously been selected for the Spanish senior team, the coaching staff was familiar with his performances for the youth teams at all levels, and his attitude greatly impressed the team.
After Eric was called up for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, he had high expectations for the tournament, but he did not play a single minute in the 4 matches under Luis Enrique. The Asturian had previously backed him at crucial moments, such as the 2021 European Championship, but at the FIFA World Cup, he preferred to use Rodri as a makeshift center-back rather than let the Martorell native play in that position.
The Barcelona international is now more mature and especially confident. He is one of Barcelona's most-capped players, having played 51 matches, tied with Gerard Martín, and accumulated 3950 minutes on the field.
His transformation has been quiet. For many years, Eric was regarded more as a controversial player than a recognized one. Now, he has become an indispensable member of Barcelona.
These experiences have made him very mature. Eric withstood criticism, returned to Barcelona after a loan spell, and has grown in importance under Flick. Now he arrives at the FIFA World Cup more complete and experienced—still very young, but playing like a veteran.
Guardiola once wanted to bring him to Man City, Xavi got him back on track, and Míchel further unlocked his potential at Girona. Flick will use him in multiple positions, while De la Fuente specifically took him to the FIFA World Cup, presumably to play as a center-back. However, the progression of the tournament will determine his role in the team; he may also be shifted to full-back or defensive midfielder.
Every coach includes him in their plans. As with the Spanish national team, coaches, after in-depth analysis, come to realize that "Eric always helps." Ultimately, everyone trusts him and values him highly. He is the quintessential coach's player.
These coaches consistently emphasize his diligence, maturity, and willingness to put the team first. Eric does not get involved in controversy, exaggerate his performances, or create noise; he does not need lengthy statements to demonstrate his value. He prefers to prove himself on the field through convincing performances, and this approach has worked well so far.
De la Fuente knows that this quality is crucial at a FIFA World Cup, where media pressure is immense. His humility has been evident throughout his entire career. On a rest day, he even visited Chattanooga, and after seeing fans outside the hotel, he was happy to sign autographs and take photos.
During his youth team days, he proved that his competitive spirit greatly benefited the team. Eric's honors include two Olympic medals: a silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics with De la Fuente, and a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics alongside Pau Cubarsí.
His training camp experience, knockout-stage experience, ability to handle pressure, adaptation to team life, and performances in key matches have all been repeatedly evaluated by the Spanish coaching staff. These factors have also placed him ahead of some previously undisputed players in this FIFA World Cup, including Le Normand and Hüsing.
His honors are already impressive: 3 league titles (2022/23, 2024/25, 2025/26), 1 Copa del Rey title (2024/25), 3 Spanish Super Cup titles (2022/23, 2024/25, 2025/26), 2 Premier League titles (2018/19, 2020/21), 1 FA Cup title (2018/19), and 3 League Cup titles (2018/19, 2019/20, 2020/21).
At the national team level, in addition to his Olympic medals, he also won 1 U19 European Championship (2019) and 1 U17 European Championship (2017) with the youth team. His career trajectory already seems extensive, but he is still very young, and his on-field intelligence makes him an extremely valuable player. De la Fuente will certainly rely on him frequently in this tournament.