MADRID: Spain coach Vicente del Bosque yesterday unveiled his 23-man squad for a Euro 2016 qualifier against Belarus on November 15 in Huelva tomorrow and a friendly against Germany three days later in Vigo.
The veteran coach produced
a surprise when he handed
call-ups to untested Napoli
striker Jose Callejon, Nolito of Celta Vigo, Real Madrid midfielder Isco and Juventus forward Alvaro Morata.
His decisions were influenced by injuries to key players Andreas Iniesta, David Silva and Dani Carvajal while Chelsea striker Diego Costa was handed some time off as he looks to get back to full fitness from a groin problem.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho had said earlier this month that his top scoring striker had been overused by Spain which aggravated his original injury.
Callejon has jumped to the top of the Serie A goal scoring charts with eight goals for Napoli while Nolito has put away five for Celta Vigo. Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos returns to international duty as the two-time European champions feature six new names in their squad.
Spain are currently second in Group C behind Slovakia and need maximum points in Huelva against Belarus on Sunday to keep their qualification bid on track.
The three-time European champions then face Germany in a prestige friendly three days later in Vigo.
Meanwhile, Germany coach Joachim Loew also unveiled his 23-player squad yesterday.
Loew had the luxury of recalling Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira and Borussia Dortmund’s Marco Reus, following injuries, while Cologne defender Jonas Hector is named to the national squad for the first time.
Bayern Munich strikers Thomas Mueller and Mario Goetze as well as Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos are also included as the four-time world champions look to finish their year in style. AGENCIES
