Jordi Alba

Alba received his first call-up to the senior national team on 30 September 2011 for the last two UEFA Euro 2012 qualifiers, against the Czech Republic and Scotland. He made his debut in the latter game on 11 October, a 3–1 win in Alicante in which his cut back from the left wing provided the assist for the opening goal, scored by former Valencia team mate David Silva. His impressive debut confirmed his status as a strong candidate to be the long-term successor of Joan Capdevila as the regular left back for La Roja.

Alba was included in Vicente del Bosque's squad for the finals in Poland and Ukraine, and played all the matches for the eventual winners. He supplied the cross for Xabi Alonso to open the scoring in the 2–0 quarter-final victory against France; in the final against Italy, after running onto a pass from Xavi during a counter-attack, he scored the second goal in a 4–0 win. Read Less

He contributed with 27 league games as Valencia again finished third, with the subsequent UEFA Champions League qualification.

In the following season, Emery began using the players simultaneously down Valencia's left side, a strategy he had tested the previous season. This proved an effective tactic as Alba and Mathieu frequently interchanged position and offered support for one another in both attacking and defensive areas; ultimately, the player credited the manager as a "key man" in his successful transition to a more defensive role. Read Less