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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 Álvaro 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 past 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 the Athletic Bilbao midfielder Iturraspe is the other player in the squad yet to make a senior appearance for Spain. | |
The highly rated Madrid playmaker Isco is among those who have missed out, as is the Tottenham Hotspur 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 past 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. | 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 the Champions League finalists, Real and Atlético Madrid. Del Bosque will announce his final 23-man squad on 25 May. | |
Spain's provisional 30-man squad | Spain's provisional 30-man squad |
Goalkeepers Iker Casillas, David de Gea, Pepe Reina | |
Defenders Sergio Ramos, Gerard Piqué, Raúl Albiol, Juanfran, Jordi Alba, César Azpilicueta, Daniel Carvajal, Alberto Moreno | |
Midfielders Xavi, Javi Martínez, Xabi Alonso, Andrés Iniesta, Koke, Sergio Busquets, Santi Cazorla, Ander Iturraspe, Cesc Fábregas, Thiago Alcântara, Juan Mata, David Silva, Pedro, Jesús Navas | |
Forwards Diego Costa, David Villa, Fernando Torres, Álvaro Negredo, Fernando Llorente |