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Munich playmaker Thiago Alcantara have been
included in the Spain squad for Wednesday’s
friendly against Italy, but Manchester United’s
recent £37 million signing Juan Mata and
Chelsea striker Fernando Torres both failed to
make the cut.
Veterans of Spain’s 2010 World Cup success
including Alvaro Arbeloa, Fernando Llorente,
Carles Puyol and La Roja’s all-time record
goalscorer David Villa are among the other big
names left out for the match at the Estadio
Vicente Calderon in Madrid, which represents
Spain’s final friendly before Vicente Del Bosque
names his 23-man squad for the World Cup in
Brazil.
The 63-year-old boss told the news conference
at which the squad was announced that enough
time remained for those omitted to play well
enough to make him change his mind.
“There are more than two important players
who are left out,” Del Bosque said. “But this
list is just for Italy. There is time in front of
us, three months of competition, and many
things could happen that ratify this list or
make us bring others.”
Arbeloa’s absence was a surprise, with
Chelsea’s Cesar Azpilicueta and Atletico
Madrid’s Juanfran Torres getting the call at
full-back instead. Del Bosque said he wanted to
get a closer look at the versatile Azpilicueta in
particular.
“Of course there are some who are not coming
who have done a lot to deserve it,” he
continued. “But we believe that Azpilicueta is
playing well at Chelsea and we are going to
watch him up close. His versatility is useful for
us.”
Atletico’s Brazil-born striker was called up by
Spain in November — only for injury to stop him
making his debut for his adopted country — and
he has been given another opportunity to prove
he merits a call-up for the summer.
“I have not spoken to him [recently] but the
federation have called him to make sure he was
still thinking the same,” Del Bosque said. “This
list is not final for Brazil. It is a unique case
because he had never come with us before, and
for him being born in Brazil. But he is a player
who comes because of what he has done for his
club. We have decided he can help us.”
Bayern Munich duo Thiago Alcantara and Javi
Martinez had also been rewarded for their
excellent performances this season, Del Bosque
said, while maintaining that the latter could
provide valuable cover in both midfield and
defence.
“We cannot consider Thiago a new arrival, he is
playing very well for Bayern Munich,” he said.
“They are one of best teams in Europe and he
is a starter there. Javi Martinez can play in
two positions. We can use him as a central
midfielder or a centre-half.”
Manchester City trio Alvaro Negredo, Jesus
Navas and David Silva and Arsenal’s Santi
Cazorla have retained their squad places, but
recent Manchester United signing Mata has
apparently paid the price for indifferent club
form this season.
Emerging Real Madrid duo Jese Rodriguez and
Dani Carvajal were not named, but Atletico
midfielder Koke is in again and looks certain to
travel to Brazil. World Cup 2010 winner Puyol is
not included despite Gerard Pique being
unavailable due to a minor thigh injury.
Del Bosque asserted the meeting with the
Azzurri — a repeat of the Euro 2012 final —
would again provide a stiff test for this side.
“They are one of the world’s big national
teams,” he said. “They have Juventus as a base,
and are playing very strong games, like the
first game of Euro 2012, the two from the
Confederations Cup, one of them agonising with
extra-time when they were just as strong as we
were. And the final [of Euro 2012], which was
for sure our best game of recent years.”
The La Roja squad are due to gather at the
national football headquarters at Las Rozas in
suburban Madrid on Monday, where a number of
adverts will be filmed with the Spanish FA’s
commercial partners.
An opening training session is set for Tuesday
evening at Atletico’s Calderon ground, where
fans will be granted free admission to watch
Del Bosque put his side through their paces
ahead of the clash with the Italians.
Ahead of the World Cup it has also been
confirmed that Spain’s squad for the
tournament will meet up on Monday, May 26 —
two days after this season’s Champions League
final — and will play a friendly against Bolivia
at Sevilla’s Estadio Sanchez Pizjuan on Friday,
May 30.
The holders’ first game at the finals is against
beaten 2010 finalists Holland in Salvador de
Bahia on Friday, June 13, followed by Chile on
June 18 in Rio de Janeiro and a final group
game against Australia on June 23 in Curitiba.
Full squad
Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas [Real Madrid], Pepe
Reina [Napoli], Victor Valdes [Barcelona]
Defenders: Juanfran Torres [Atletico Madrid],
Javi Martinez [Bayern Munich], Sergio Ramos
[Real Madrid], Jordi Alba [Barcelona], Cesar
Azpilicueta [Chelsea], Raul Albiol [Napoli].
Midfielders: Xabi Alonso [Real Madrid], Sergio
Busquets, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta &
Cesc Fabregas [Barcelona], Koke [Atletico
Madrid], Thiago Alcantara [Bayern], Jesus
Navas & David Silva [Man City], Santi Cazorla
[Arsenal].
Attackers: Diego Costa [Atletico], Alvaro
Negredo [Man City], Pedro Rodriguez [Barca].
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