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Spain World Cup squad: Fernando Torres and Juan Mata included | Spain World Cup squad: Fernando Torres and Juan Mata included |
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Chelsea's Fernando Torres and Manchester United's Juan Mata have both been included in Spain's preliminary squad for the 2014 World Cup. Neither player has had the best of seasons but Vicente del Bosque picked both of them for his provisional 30-man squad, together with the uncapped Ander Iturraspe of Athletic Bilbao and Daniel Carvajal of Real Madrid. However, the Real Madrid pair Alvaro Arbeloa and Isco have been omitted. | |
Arbeloa was part of the Spain sides that have won back-to-back European Championships and the World Cup in the last six years, but the experienced full-back will not be going to Brazil this summer. | |
Arbeloa's club-mate Carvajal has earned a spot, though, after impressing following his return to Madrid last summer, while Athletic Bilbao midfielder Iturraspe is the other player in the squad yet to make a senior appearance for Spain. | |
Highly-rated Madrid playmaker Isco is among those who have missed out, as well as Tottenham striker Roberto Soldado, who has had a poor first season at White Hart Lane. Torres, who scored in the finals of both Euro 2008 and Euro 2012, has been absent from the last few Spain squads, but he has won a berth. | |
Aside from Torres, Del Bosque has included eight more Premier League players, including the Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina, who has spent the season on loan at Napoli. | |
The defending champions have included seven players from Barcelona and four each from Champions League finalists Real and Atletico Madrid. Del Bosque will announce his final 23-man squad on May 25. | |
Spain's provisional 30-man squad | Spain's provisional 30-man squad |
Goalkeepers Casillas, Reina, De Gea | Goalkeepers Casillas, Reina, De Gea |
Defenders Azpilicueta, Piqué, Ramos, Jordi Alba, Alberto Moreno, Javi Martínez, Albiol, Juanfran, Carvajal | Defenders Azpilicueta, Piqué, Ramos, Jordi Alba, Alberto Moreno, Javi Martínez, Albiol, Juanfran, Carvajal |
Midfielders Busquets, Xabi Alonso, Koke, Iturraspe, Xavi, Thiago, Pedro, Navas, Silva, Cesc, Mata, Cazorla, Iniesta | Midfielders Busquets, Xabi Alonso, Koke, Iturraspe, Xavi, Thiago, Pedro, Navas, Silva, Cesc, Mata, Cazorla, Iniesta |
Forwards Costa, Villa, Torres, Negredo, Llorente | Forwards Costa, Villa, Torres, Negredo, Llorente |