Euro2012: Champions Spain name final squad

Defending champions Spain have named their final 23 players squad for the 2012 European Championships in Poland and the Ukraine. Spain plays Italy, Ireland and Croatia in Group C of the tournament that runs from June 8 to July 1.

Coach Vicente del Bosque has only had one big surprise in his selection as FC Valencia striker Roberto Soldado missed out as did Adrian Lopez from Atletico Madrid, while Chelsea's Fernando Torres and Barcelona's Pedro made the squad.

Earlier Barca duo Carlos Puyol and David Villa had to opt out due to injuries, while Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea was dropped with three stronger keepers ahead of him as per del Bosque's assessment.

Spain are going into the tournament as the 2008 European Championships and 2010 FIFA World Cup winners, so a lot will be expected from the Spaniards who will try and win their third major title in a row.


SPAIN

Goalkeepers
Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Pepe Reina (FC Liverpool), Victor Valdes (FC Barcelona)

Defenders
Alvaro Arbeloa (Real Madrid), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Juanfran (Atletico Madrid), Jordi Alba (FC Valencia), Raul Albiol (Real Madrid), Gerard Pique (FC Barcelona), Javi Martinez (Athletic Bilbao)

Midfielders
Xavi Hernandez (FC Barcelona), Sergio Busquets (FC Barcelona), Andres Iniesta (FC Barcelona), Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), David Silva (Manchester City), Santi Cazorla (FC Malaga), Cesc Fabregas (FC Barcelona), Juan Mata (FC Chelsea)

Forwards
Jesus Navas (FC Sevilla), Pedro (FC Barcelona), Fernando Llorente (Athletic Bilbao), Fernando Torres (FC Chelsea), Alvaro Negredo (FC Sevilla)

Spain's David Villa ruled out of Euro 2012

Spain's alltime highest goal scorer David Villa has informed Spanish coach Vicente del Bosque he has not fully recovered from a broken leg suffered in the 2011 FIFA Club World Cup last December and ruled himself out of their title defence at the 2012 European Championships in Poland and the Ukraine, the Spanish federation confirmed yesterday.

In December 2011 I had written following article after David Villa's injury: Will David Villa be fit again for Euro2012?

"Villa spoke with the national team coach this afternoon, after the team arrived in Schruns, Austria (for a pre-tournament training camp)," the Spanish federation (RFEF) statement read.

"After failing to achieve the desired progress in recent training sessions, Villa spoke with del Bosque and told him although he would like to be with the team in Poland and Ukraine, his physical state 'isn't the best' for a competition like the Euros."

"The RFEF and Spain's coaching staff wish the player all the best in his recovery and hope he will return soon to the national team, and value the effort made by David to get back to full fitness," the statement ended.

David Villa was a key player in Spain's title triumphs at Euro2008 and the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Villa is Spain record goal scorer with 51 goals in 82 international matches.

Villa follows FC Barcelona team mate Carlos Puyol, who also had to pull out of Spain's squad due to injury. Now the focus will be on Chelsea striker Fernando Torres, Valencia's Roberto Soldado, Sevilla's Alvaro Negredo and Atletico Madrid's Adrian Lopez who look certain to be in the squad with Bilbao's Fernando Llorente and Barca's Pedro fighting for a last spot upfront.

Del Bosque leaves out Torres of Spain squad

The Spanish national coach Vicente del Bosque has dropped out of form Chelsea FC striker Fernando Torres from his squad for an international friendly next Wednesday, February 29 against Venezuela in Malaga. Torres so far has only scored four goals in 29 appearances for Chelsea FC.

With main striker David Villa still out injured and the omission of Fernando Torres it seems like del Bosque is looking to test other strikers who are doing well in the Spanish La Liga ahead of the 2012 European Championships in Poland and the Ukraine this summer.

Explaining his decision del Bosque said, "He is a lad we appreciate a lot and it pains me to leave him out but I wanted to be fair."

But del Bosque also added that this isn't his final squad and not only Torres and Villa, but also other players have the chance to make it for the Euro2012 squad.


SPAIN

Goalkeepers
Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), José Manuel Reina (FC Liverpool), Victor Valdes (FC Barcelona)

Defenders
Jordi Alba (FC Valencia), Alvaro Arbeloa (Real Madrid), Andoni Iraola (Athletic Bilbao), Gerard Piqué (FC Barcelona), Carles Puyol (FC Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid)

Midfielders
Thiago Alcantara (FC Barcelona), Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Sergi Busquets (FC Barcelona), Santi Cazorla (FC Malaga), Cesc Fabregas (FC Barcelona), Xavi Hernandez (FC Barcelona), Andres Iniesta (FC Barcelona), Juan Mata (FC Chelsea), Javi Martinez (Athletic Bilbao), Jesús Navas (FC Sevilla), David Silva (Manchester City)

Forwards
Fernando Llorente (Athletic Bilbao), Iker Muniain (Athletic Bilbao), Alvaro Negredo (FC Sevilla), Roberto Soldado (FC Valencia)