The Barca man has been his country's first-choice left-back for seven years and his exclusion seems more like a personal decision
Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde was asked ahead of last weekend's clash with Huesca what advice he had for Jordi Alba, who had been surprisingly left out of Luis Enrique's first Spain squad.
"Well," he mused, "the same as anyone: focus on the game without going crazy."
The game may have been insane, with Barca triumphing 8-2, but Jordi Alba was his usual calm and composed self. And, as a result, as influential as ever.
The left-back scored one goal and created two others, teeing up Luis Suarez for his first of the season, and providing the cross that Jorge Pulido turned into his own net.