Juan Mata in; Cesar Azpilicueta out.
Chelsea’s Juan Mata has been included in the Spain squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Belarus and Georgia but Blues full-back Cesar Azpilicueta misses out.
Tottenham’s Roberto Soldado has also been omitted, while Fernando Torres joins Arsenal’s Santi Cazorla on the treatment table.
“[Atletico right-back] Juanfran deserves his chance. We also have Azpilicueta, Montoya and Carvajal, but they do not play. Juanfran is playing well for Atletico,” said Spain boss Vicente de Bosque.
Azpilicueta, 24, has made just two sub appearances in the league under Jose Mourinho this season, with the Portuguese preferring Branislav Ivanovic at right back.
Brazilian-born Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa could not be included in the squad as he waits for the paperwork to go through and young left-back Alberto Moreno is selected for the first time.
Spain squad in full:
• Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas, José Manuel Reina, Víctor Valdés
• Defenders: Álvaro Arbeloa, Juanfran Torres, Gerard Piqué, Raúl Albiol, Sergio Ramos, Ignacio Monreal, Alberto Moreno.
• Midfielders: Sergio Busquets, Mario Suárez, Xavi Hernández, Andrés Iniesta, Koke, Francisco Alarcón “Isco”,Pedro Rodríguez, Jesús Navas, Cesc Fábregas.
• Strikers: Álvaro Negredo, Juan Manuel Mata, David Jiménez Silva, David Villa.
COMMENTS