Costa, Mata and Cazorla left out of Spain's Euro 2016 squad

Record ID: 103182

  • Title: Costa, Mata and Cazorla left out of Spain's Euro 2016 squad
  • Date: 17th May 2016
  • Summary: MADRID, SPAIN (MAY 17, 2016) (REUTERS) SPAIN NATIONAL COACH VICENTE DEL BOSQUE ARRIVING AT NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM DEL BOSQUE SEATED AT NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPAIN NATIONAL TEAM COACH VICENTE DEL BOSQUE SAYING: "The provisional list is: Azpilicueta, Bruno, San Jose, Fabregas, Silva, Nolito, Aduriz and Pedro. These eight players will be the first, along with the others that I previously mentioned, to join the camp on the 23th. Another group that will join the camp later is: Casillas, de Gea, Rico, Pique, Busquets, Jordi Alba, Iniesta, Thiago, Morata, Bartra. Another group, that will join the rest a bit later is formed by: Juanfran, Carvajal, Ramos, Saul, Koke, Isco and Lucas Vazques." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPAIN NATIONAL TEAM COACH VICENTE DEL BOSQUE SAYING: "The case of Cazorla is very similar to Diego's (Costa) case. Cazorla has been injured for five months. He has made an extraordinary effort to be ready, we are aware of that and we appreciate that. The other day he played a match for 88 minutes. But we decided not to call many people without being sure that they are completely well." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPAIN NATIONAL TEAM COACH VICENTE DEL BOSQUE, SPEAKING ABOUT MATA'S ABSENCE, SAYS: "The competition is what it is. We can't call everybody, it wouldn't be possible. With some pain we have to remove some names from the list and look for what we think is the best." JOURNALIST TYPING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPAIN NATIONAL TEAM COACH VICENTE DEL BOSQUE SAYING: "I have strength until the end of the Euro for the moment. It is my maximum interest and I'm completely focused on it. My concern and my responsibility is until the end of the Euro Cup. From then, you all know what is my intention." DEL BOSQUE LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM
  • Embargoed: 1st June 2016 14:00
  • Keywords: Euro 2016 Spain squad Bosque
  • Location: MADRID, SPAIN
  • City: MADRID, SPAIN
  • Country: Spain
  • Topics: Soccer,Sport
  • Reuters ID: LVA0014I74ABJ
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: English Premier League-based trio Diego Costa, Juan Mata and Santi Cazorla were among a high-profile list of absentees when Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque named his provisional 25-man squad for the Euro 2016 tournament on Tuesday (May 17).
    In a news conference at Spain national team facilities, del Bosque read the name of the 25 players included in the squad.
    "The provisional list is: Azpilicueta, Bruno, San Jose, Fabregas, Silva, Nolito, Aduriz and Pedro. These eight players will be the first, along with the others that I previously mentioned, to join the camp the 23th. Another group that will join the camp later is: Casillas, de Gea, Rico, Pique, Busquets, Jordi Alba, Iniesta, Thiago, Morata, Bartra. Another group, that will join the rest a bit later is formed by: Juanfran, Carvajal, Ramos, Saul, Koke, Isco and Lucas Vazques," he said.
    Costa injured his hamstring playing against Liverpool in Chelsea's penultimate game of the season. Atletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres was also absent from the squad despite his improved form towards the end of the season, as were Arsenal midfielder Cazorla and Valencia forward Paco Alcacer, Spain's top scorer in their qualifying campaign.
    Del Bosque said the physical condition of Cazorla and Diego Costa had prevented him from including these players in the squad.
    "The case of Cazorla is very similar to Diego's (Costa) case. Cazorla has been injured for five months. He has made an extraordinary effort to be ready, we are aware of that and we appreciate that. The other day he played a match for 88 minutes. But we decided not to call many people without being sure that they are completely well," he said.
    Manchester United midfielder Mata, Barcelona's Sergi Roberto and Villarreal's Mario Gaspar were also excluded from the defending champions' squad despite being involved in the March friendlies with Italy and Romania.
    Asked why he left Mata out of squad, del Bosque said there are many good players and he had taken the decision he considered best for the team.
    "The competition is what it is. We can't call everybody, it wouldn't be possible. With some pain we have to remove some names from the list and look for what we think is the best, " he said.
    In his traditional calm way, del Bosque hinted he may leave the national team after the Euro tournament.
    "I have strength until the end of the Euro for the moment. It is my maximum interest and I'm completely focused on it," he said. "My concern and my responsibility is until the end of the Euro Cup. From then, you all know what is my intention."
    Spain will play three friendlies, against Bosnia, South Korea and Georgia before starting the defence of their title against Czech Republic on June 13.
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