For Goal Keepers, no way does Diego Lopez get in. Unless one of them gets injured it's going to be Casillas, Valdes, and Reina.

Puyol won't be on the squad, father time has really caught up to him.

Callejon and Jese won't be there either. Thiago, Koke, and Navas will most likely make the team.

Both Negredo and Llorente won't be there. Del Bosque likes Negredo more even though my preference is Llorente. I also would like to see David Villa go, he fits in with the playing style the best out of all of the forwards.

 

Everybody knows that Paco Alcacer is the future of Spain

 

Casillas, Valdes, Reina
Azpilicueta, Arbeloa
Ramos, Pique, Inigo
Alba
Javi, Busquets, Xabi, Thiago, Xavi, Iniesta, Cesc, Mata, Silva, Navas
Pedro, Negredo, Costa, Llorente

This will most probably be their squad. Still, I would like to see Carvajal instead of Arbeloa and Alberto from Sevilla instead of Alba. If Jese continues this form he will probably replace Llorente or Costa. I can't see Isco's or Koke's places. Maybe if some midfielder gets injured.

 

Why can't you see Koke getting in there? Del Bosque has consistently called him up the past few times.

 

Incredible selection of players :thmbup:

Pedro must start for Spain.

Callejon and Jese in the team?? Be serious.

 

This is a list of the players that I would call.

Right now, I'd take Callejon over Navas for sure. he plays more often, is more for his team, and score more.

Jese scores every game he plays and is different to all other attacking options. I was between him and Isco, and he has the edge for me at the moment.

Also, Puyol's experience and versatility would secure him a spot if it was up to me.

 

Callejon is a good player, but he's more of a wingforward; something Spain already have in Pedro. Navas provides more width and can unlock a defense with his dribbling skills, something that Callejon can't. Plus Navas is one of del Bosque's favorites and Callejon hasn't even been capped. Can't see Jose getting in.

Diego Lopez won't get in ahead of any of the established 3 goalkeepers while Puyol is just not going to be able to make it unless he becomes a regular starter for Barca again which is very unlikely at this point. Del Bosque doesn't seem too keen on Llorente and never did to be honest, I don't see him getting in although it's not impossible looking at Negredo's awful form lately. Don't see the need for 3 centerforwards though unless you call Villa.

Goalkeepers: Casillas, Valdes, Reina

Defenders: Arbeloa, Azpilicueta, Pique, Ramos, Albiol, Alba

Midfielders: Busquets, J. Martinez, Alonso, Xavi, Koke, Iniesta, Fabregas, Silva, Navas, Cazorla

Forwards: Pedro, Costa, Negredo, Villa

Still with an outside chance of making the squad: Juanfran, I. Martinez, Moreno, Thiago, Mata, Llorente

Cazorla may not be playing that well this season, but he just seems to be a regular fixture in del Bosque's team and with his versatility and ability to play different positions in Spain's system, I can see him getting called over Thiago.

 

GK: Casillas, Valdes, Reina
FB: Arbeloa, Azpilicueta, Alba, Alberto Moreno
CB: Ramos, Pique, Albiol
CM: Busquets, Javi Martinez, Xabi Alonso, Xavi, Thiago
AM/W: Iniesta, Cesc, Silva, Koke, Navas
FW: Diego Costa, David Villa, Pedro

Reserves:
De Gea, Diego Lopez
Barta, Inigo, Carvajal, Monreal
Gabi, Raul Garcia, Javi, Illaramendi
Callejon, Cazorla, Mata
Llorente, Negredo, Torres, Soldado

With that said I think Negredo and Cazorla will somehow go, perhaps in place of one fullback and Koke.

 

GK: Casillas, D. Lopez, Reina
CB: Ramos, Pique, I. Martinez
FB: Azpilicueta, Juanfran, Alba, Arbeloa
DM/CM: Xavi, Fabregas, X. Alonso, Busquets, J. Martinez
AM/W: Iniesta, Mata, D. Silva, Navas
FW: Pedro, Negredo, D. Villa, Llorente

 

I would definately bring Jesús Navas to Brazil - an option to play behind the opponent's defensive line instead of through.

Their midfield options are unbelievable - whoever he leaves home it'll be a travesty :howler:

In Álvaro Negredo and Diego Costa they now have a genuine target men to lead the line (instead of Cesc in the withdrawn CF role). In defence and goal, Vicente del Bosque will bring his favourites.

Provisional Squad

1) Iker Casillas
2) Raúl Albiol
3) Gerard Piqué
4) Javi Martínez
5) César Azpilicueta
6) Andrés Iniesta
7) David Villa
8) Xavi Hernández
9) Álvaro Negredo
10) Cesc Fàbregas
11) Pedro
12) Víctor Valdés
13) Juan Mata
14) Xabi Alonso
15) Sergio Ramos
16) Sergio Busquets
17) Álvaro Arbeloa
18) Jordi Alba
19) Diego Costa
20) Santi Cazorla
21) David Silva
22) Jesús Navas
23) Pepe Reina


EURO 2016: Introduce Koke, Thiago Alcântara, Isco and Iñigo Martínez into the fold...

 

Inigo Martinez should already be there, and Albiol should be at home, as far away from the World Cup as possible.

Great squad, but unfortunately this Spanish team looks old, lost, and a shadow of themselves these days.

 

GKs: Casillas. Two reserves don't really matter so I would pick De Gea (for him to taste the atmosphere ) and one of Valdes and Reina.

DFs: Azpilicueta/Juanfran/Ramos-Javi Martinez/Pique-Ramos-Alba/Azpilicueta. These six players are enough for the whole tournament imo. Puyol with his experience and versatility may still get a go though. And please no Aberloa p

MFs: Busquets, Xavi, Xabi, Cesc, Thiago, Cazorla, Silva, Koke, Mata, Navas. Ten players

FWs: Diego Costa, Villa, Negredo and Torres/Llorente. This one last FW spot can be scratched out to add Puyol.

Isco, Inigo and Illarra are very good but I don't think they will be there barring injuries.

Btw, how was Diego Costa debut? Anyone watched? I always think if he's not 1st option, he'll be even more great. As the key man this season at Atletico he makes selfish decisions and overdribbles the ball quite alot. If he keeps things simple in attacking plays and tries to get to the end of chances more, it's scary.

edit: I forgot Pedro, the impactful diver, jk, so one of ten MFs has to make way, maybe Koke.

 

Please leave Arbeloa at home and take Carvajal

 

How does Diego Lopez not get into the squad even though he is Real's no.1 ahead of Casillas?

 

Casillas is captain, has better pedigree and is in better form.

Would be nice if Thiago, Koke and Moreno are called up this time then Isco, Illara, Jese, Inigo, Barta, Carvajal/Montoya, Deulofeu can be introduced in the next cycles.

 

So many that haven't even been mentioned as well that will never get called up but deserve it. Borja Valero, Parejo, Bruno Soriano for example...

Jese should not be called it at all, same with frigging Bartra. Just because who they play for, if they were doing that at Osasuna or Levante would there even be a mention of a call up!? No.

 

Only fools would drop Koke.

 

I think more or less the call-ups will be obvious at this point (Most of them at least).

The more important question on everyone's minds, who will the starting 11 be?

Formation: 4-2-3-1

GK: Casillas
RB: Azpilicueta
CB: Pique
CB: Ramos
LB: Alba
DM: Alonso
DM: Busquets
RW: Pedro
AM: Fabregas
LW: Iniesta
CF: Costa

-Casillas will get the spot for keeper as he usually does
-Alba has his spot, no competition
-When it comes to the center back combinations, I think Bosque will be conservative and go with the EURO pair of Pique and Ramos for reasons of chemistry/familiarity. He could surprise us but this is what I think he'll go with in the first match.
-The right back spot will probably come down to either Arbeloa or the new Azpilicueta. I think the first main change will come here. He'll pick Azpilicueta based on a great season's performance with Chelsea and possibly to make the team defensively more stable
-The Double Pivot I think will include Busquets and Xabi Alonso. Martinez or Alcantara could be good choices as well, definitely younger fresher options, but I think Bosque will prefer Alonso out of experience, even if there's a possibility of a possible dangerous off game.
-I think Pedro will get the start over David Silva. Could go either way but Pedro seems to have Bosque's trust at the moment, and a goal against Italy is only helping his argument.
-Central midfield usually would be Xavi but I will make a bold prediction and go with Fabregas. Xavi was very poor against Bayern Munich last season, with old age, he hasn't been the same, on/off performances. I'm not a big fan of Fabregas but I think this is an area where Bosque will want to go with a younger option to be safe for the moment being.
-Iniesta looks like the best fit at the left-wing spot. So far in the bigger matches throughout the years (Netherlands, Brazil, Italy), he's been performing when expected. He's willing to take the defenders head on and is continuing with dangerous incisive passes.
-Last but not least, center forward, Diego Costa will be where all eyes are at. Whether he shows up or not is another question for another day. He'll probably enjoy the moment at Brazil (should be good psychologically), he's a big guy, even in his average games he's constantly running and fighting to get in position for the golden opportunity. This is where Spain had issues and he'll hopefully be the solution.

 

Silva was also really good against Italy though. I can see how Pedro might be preferred because he definitely fits the team's needs more, but IMO Silva might be too good not to be a starter at the moment.

 

Silva would most likely play in place of Cesc or if they don't play with a recognized striker then they would both play. Del Bosque likes having either Pedro or Navas in there for the wide play. Plus Pedro almost always shows up for the NT.

 

When is the deadline for the final selections?

 

Only spain where silva n mata dont start

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I thought Silva was the best player for Spain in the most recent friendly.

 

At the current level, Silva has to start. Right now, if it is between him and Cesc, I would definitely pick him. Mata on the other hand is not in great in form. I would also think that Cazorla's place in that squad is in danger, because he has been poor for most of this season.

 

Cesc has been tremendous this season and unlike Silva, who scores once in a blue moon, is a genuine goalscoring threat and that's something VDB loves about him hence instilling him as a striker. Mata is probably going in the squad, as he should, but Cazorla is not for sure. Thing is about Del Bosque is that he doesn't screw around with a winning formation, there's no surprises and we'll probably see the same starting team as of years past. Bar probably the rightback position where Azpilicueta has really moved up the ranks and the possible inclusion of Costa.

-------------Casillas-----------

Azpilicueta--Ramos--Pique--Alba--

--------Alonso--Busquets---

------Iniesta--Xavi---Cesc--

------------Villa/Costa----

 

That's the line up I would go with. Its similar to the Euro 2008 side which IMO was the best Spanish side we've ever seen.

Cesc or Silva could start.

Villa is not in good form at the moment but he usually turns up for La Roja and Costa gives some size and strength there that Torres used to provide.