Spain waits on Real, Atleti stars - Capital Sports
Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

The 2014 FIFA World Cup

Spain waits on Real, Atleti stars

RAMOS-ATLETICOMADRID, May 25- Spain manager Vicente del Bosque on Sunday put off until at least May 31 naming his full World Cup squad to monitor the fitness of key Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid players.

Del Bosque announced a list of 19 players for the World Cup holders’ friendly against Bolivia on May 30 and said he would name the final World Cup squad of 23 the day after that. He has until June 2 to finalise the list.

“We want to be sure that they will be in perfect physical condition to play in the World Cup,” Del Bosque told a news conference.

“We hope that on June 2 all those who are going to play in the World Cup will be able to train.”

Barcelona winger Gerard Deulofeu won a call-up for the Bolivia match despite not being on the 30-strong long-list already announced for next month’s World Cup in Brazil.

Sunday’s list left out for the time being players from the two Spanish teams in Saturday night’s Champions League final in which Real Madrid beat their city rivals Atletico 4-1 in extra time.

They include Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas and defender Sergio Ramos, a hero of the Lisbon final after his 93rd-minute equaliser sent the match into extra time before Real scored three more.

Midfielder Xabi Alonso and defender Dani Carvajal are the two other Real players concerned.

Among the others are Spain’s Brazilian-born striker Diego Costa, who started for Atletico in Lisbon on Saturday night but was replaced after nine minutes due to an ongoing hamstring injury.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

Costa had surprisingly been passed fit to start the Champions final after reportedly undergoing a special horse placenta treatment in Serbia earlier in the week.

Also among those waiting to confirm his place on the plane to Brazil is his Atletico teammate Juanfran Torres, who finished Saturday’s match with an ankle injury, and two other Atletico players, Koke and striker David Villa.

– ‘No one ruled out’ –

Del Bosque omitted from his list of 19 the Manchester City striker Alvaro Negredo and Juventus’s Fernando Llorente, raising hope for Chelsea’s Fernando Torres who made it into the squad to face Bolivia.

Manchester United’s Juan Mata and Negredo’s City teammate David Silva also made Sunday’s list, but a third Manchester City player, forward Jesus Navas, must wait until after the Bolivia match.

“No one is ruled out,” except the already injured Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara, Del Bosque said.

Excluding Deulofeu, Del Bosque will add to the list of 18 the eight Real Madrid and Atletico players and will then have to eliminate three names for a final list of 23.

Spain face Chile, the Netherlands and Australia in World Cup Group B. Their first match pits them on June 13 against the Netherlands — their opponents in their 2010 World Cup final triumph.

Full Spain squad for May 31 friendly against Bolivia:

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

Goalkeepers: Pepe Reina (Napoli/ITA), David de Gea (Manchester United/ENG)

Defenders: Jordi Alba, Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea/ENG), Javi Martinez (Bayern Munich/GER), Raul Albiol (Napoli/ITA), Alberto Moreno (Sevilla)

Midfielders: Sergio Busquets, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas (all Barcelona), Santi Cazorla (Arsenal), Ander Iturraspe (Athletic Bilbao), Juan Mata (Manchester United/ENG)

Forwards: David Silva (Manchester City/ENG), Pedro Rodriguez (Barcelona), Fernando Torres (Chelsea/ENG)

Advertisement

More on Capital Sports

Football

NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 27 – DStv and GOtv subscribers are in for a treat of the world’s best football this week as the 2020-21...

Football

NAIROBI, Kenya, May 25 – There is light at the end of the tunnel. After failed promises over the last three years since its...

Football

NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 6 – Gentrix Shikangwa scored with two minutes left as Vihiga Queens sailed to the final of the CECAFA regional qualifiers...

NFL

NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 13 – Kenya’s history making Daniel Adongo, the first Kenyan to play in America’s National Football League (NFL), is now living...

© 2024 Capital Digital Media. Capital Group Limited. All Rights Reserved